Katalyst Space Technologies completed environmental testing for its LINK spacecraft, essential for reboosting the
NASA Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory facing orbital decay. The mission, described as
‘fast, high-risk, high-reward’ by Swift’s mission director, is set to launch later this June.
The LINK spacecraft passed a series of rigorous tests at
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, which included vibration and thermal vacuum assessments. During vibration testing, engineers simulated the intense shaking expected during its launch aboard a Northrop Grumman Pegasus rocket.
This follow-up mission is critical as the Swift observatory, launched in 2004, is projected to reenter the atmosphere by late 2026. The observatory's orbit has accelerated its decline from about
600 km to 400 km in recent years, necessitating this reboost mission to prevent a loss of the $500 million satellite.
“Because of that, we have enough time for this team to get to the launch pad,”
Shawn Domagal-Goldman, director of NASA’s astrophysics division, stated earlier this year. Following successful tests, LINK is slated for integration with the Pegasus rocket at
NASA's Wallops Flight Facility early in June, with a launch target later that month.
In September 2025, NASA awarded Katalyst a
$30 million contract to develop this spacecraft, further emphasizing the importance of this mission as Swift’s orbit deteriorates rapidly, indicating potential challenges ahead for the team.
Sources: 
Katalyst Space Technologies has successfully completed environmental tests of its LINK spacecraft at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, paving the way for a June launch aimed at boosting the declining orbit of NASA's Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory, according to NASA officials.
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