Rocket Integration Complete for Katalyst Swift Boost

Engineers completed installation of Katalyst Space’s LINK robotic servicing spacecraft into a Northrop Grumman Pegasus XL rocket on Tuesday, June 9, at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. Launch is anticipated later this month. Katalyst was contracted to build and launch LINK to raise the altitude of the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory.

Earth's atmosphere creates drag on low Earth orbit spacecraft, gradually lowering their altitudes if they lack propulsion; recent solar activity magnified the effect and Swift's orbit decayed faster than expected. Given the mission’s timing and orbital needs, Katalyst selected the air‑launched Pegasus XL to reach Swift in time.

Northrop Grumman will launch the rocket from its modified L‑1011, Stargazer, and similar Pegasus versions have previously carried ICON and NuSTAR.

United States, Virginia

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