Rescue Swift
The mission to save the Swift Observatory
Swift Observatory Boost Mission will launch as soon as June 27th!
Northrop Grumman's L-1011 Tri-Star (Stargazer) aircraft has been fitted with the Pegasus XL launch vehicle with Katalyst Space Technologies' LINK spacecraft onboard.
Launch is slated for ~12:09 UTC June 27th and will launch 100 miles (160 km) Southwest of Kwajalein (Bucholz Army Airfield).
The L-1011 Tri-Star will enter a holding pattern prior to launch at around ~40kft (12km), then in the minute prior to launch, Stargazer and Pegesus XL will be flying Southeast and start a climb to ~41,500ft (12.6km) where Pegesus XL will be released, then 7 seconds later, vehicle ignition will occur, followed by pitch-up.
1st stage burnout will occur 1min 19secs into flight and will travel 470 miles (756km) downrange. The 2nd stage will ignite at 1min 35secs into flight and will burn to 2mins 50secs into flight, the 2nd stage will travel 2,200 miles (3,540km) downrange.
Following 2nd stage separation, Pegesus 3rd stage and LINK will coast for ~3mins 30secs where the 3rd stage will conduct a 1-minute insertion burn, placing LINK into a 355 x 385km x 20.6 degree orbit with a nominal cutoff velocity of 26081.6 kmh / 16206.4 mph / 7244.89 m/s.
At the time of orbital insertion, the Swift Observatory will be 250 miles (402km) north of Micronesia or 1,885 miles (3,033km) behind the LINK spacecraft at 354km.
Around four days after launch, Katalyst Space Technologies' LINK will make a close approach with the Swift Observatory. In the weeks after launch LINK is expected to capture Swift Observatory and boost the orbital altitude of Swift, extending the operational lifespan and science of the Swift Observatory.
Katalyst Space Technologies is an aerospace company based in Flagstaff, Arizona, and was founded in late 2019. In March of 2025 Katalyst Space Technologies acquired Atomos Space which was a company that specialized in rendezvous and orbital transfer vehicles.
In September 2025 NASA awarded Katalyst Space Technologies with the Swift Rescue Mission for $30 million USD to build and develop a spacecraft capable of linking up with the Swift Observatory and boosting its orbital altitude.