An Earth-orbiting NASA telescope is on track to re-enter the atmosphere, with a 90% chance of losing control by late 2026. To counter this risk, NASA has enlisted Katalyst Space Technologies, a startup from Arizona, to execute a bold rescue mission.
Katalyst received a $30 million contract to boost the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory into a higher, safer orbit. They are working on a spacecraft called “LINK,” which aims to autonomously meet up with Swift and shift it into a more stable position.
The timeline is tight. Katalyst has only eight months to launch LINK, with a deadline set for June 2026. They’ll utilize a rocket dropped from a plane, a unique method that sets their mission apart.
The Swift observatory, launched in 2004, studies gamma-ray bursts—the most explosive events in the universe. Over its two decades, Swift has gradually lost altitude, and recent solar activity has hastened its decline due to increased atmospheric drag. Katalyst estimates a 50% chance of uncontrolled reentry by mid-2026 and a striking 90% by the end of next year.
While Swift would burn up upon re-entry, posing no danger to people below, both Katalyst and NASA are eager to prolong its operational life.
To achieve this, Katalyst has chosen Northrop Grumman’s Pegasus rocket for the launch. Pegasus is unique because it’s air-launched, meaning it is dropped from a carrier aircraft before igniting its engine and heading into space. This method saves fuel and time, essential for this mission.
Historically, the Pegasus rocket’s usage declined as cheaper ground-launched options became available. This mission marks its first flight since 2021. According to Katalyst, “Pegasus is the only system that can meet the orbit, timeline, and budget simultaneously.”
Swift orbits the Earth at a 20.6-degree angle to avoid the South Atlantic Anomaly, a region where Earth’s magnetic field is weaker. Launching from ground sites like Cape Canaveral would require an excessive amount of fuel due to this unique orbital path. Kieran Wilson, Katalyst’s VP of technology, indicates that Pegasus’s design helps address this challenge efficiently.
Once LINK is deployed, it will perform detailed maneuvers to connect with Swift. The observatory lacks docking ports, so LINK will use a specialized robotic mechanism to make the connection. If successful, this mission will not only save Swift but also show NASA how to respond quickly to similar challenges in the future. Having the ability to maneuver aging spacecraft is a valuable asset for maintaining operational satellites.
This mission highlights a growing trend in space technology: innovative solutions for satellite longevity and maintenance. As space agencies worldwide face similar threats to their satellites, the success of Katalyst and NASA’s project could pave the way for new methods in orbital repair, ultimately benefiting scientific research and exploration.
Source link
Low Earth orbit,NASA,rockets,satellites
