The LINK robotic mission to save the Swift space telescope from atmospheric re-entry has been successfully launched

In recent days, there has been extensive coverage of the robotic mission to save the Swift space telescope from atmospheric re-entry and thus from its destruction. This is a unique mission that could serve as a test for future missions of this kind aimed at other targets and, as stated by John Van Eepoel (mission director for NASA Goddard), "the attempt to raise Swift's orbit is a quick, high-risk, and high-reward mission".

After several days of uncertainty due to bad weather at the launch site, news circulated yesterday that the mission had been successfully launched. In fact, subsequent clarifications confirmed that the Stargazer L-1011 airplane from Northrop Grumman had indeed taken off, but a problem with the launch vehicle had prevented the release of the Pegasus XL space rocket.

Launch of the LINK mission to save the Swift space telescope

After a quick resolution of the problem, NASA and its partners confirmed that Stargazer L-1011 took off around 8:39 AM today from the airport located in the Kwajalein Atoll in the southern Pacific Ocean. The Pegasus XL space rocket was released at 10:36 AM, allowing the LINK satellite, developed by Katalyst Space, to reach orbit and begin operations for the challenging mission dedicated to the Swift space telescope.

It is interesting to note how Northrop Grumman is involved at multiple levels in this affair. In fact, it is their airplane that launched the vehicle (a model built by Lockheed and subsequently modified), they have the space rocket that has been active since 1990 (launching over 100 satellites into orbit), and the company also built the Swift space telescope at its facility in Gilbert, Arizona.

Wes Collier (VP of launch systems, Northrop Grumman) stated regarding Pegasus XL, "ready for launch in less than eight months, Pegasus is the ideal choice for missions that need to take off now. Its air-launch design and proven Orion engines mean that payloads can reach orbits that are more difficult to attain for other rockets".

The mission of this scientific instrument was originally supposed to last two years, but since its launch in 2004, it has continued to operate for quite some time after the end of the primary mission. NASA recalled that "the atmosphere of our planet creates some drag for spacecraft in low Earth orbit, gradually reducing their altitude if they do not have propulsion systems to maintain their position. Recent solar activity has amplified this effect on Swift, and its orbit has decayed faster than expected".

Katalyst Space was tasked by NASA in September 2025 to develop the LINK satellite with significantly reduced timelines compared to other space missions. It was not initially expected that the Swift space telescope could dock with another satellite in space, and getting so close to a target that is moving very quickly is complex.

Now it will be necessary to wait two weeks during which the first checks on LINK will be conducted. The next phase, lasting about three weeks, will serve to carry out the first close-range analyses of the space telescope, followed by two weeks for docking. The orbital altitude adjustment will last three months. At that point, the mission control center will check if the Swift space telescope is in good condition and then proceed with its reactivation.