Pegasus XL rocket dusted off to rescue NASA’s Swift observatory from fiery demise
Summary
NASA’s ageing Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory faces a growing risk of uncontrolled reentry in 2026. To save it, Flagstaff-based Katalyst has selected Northrop Grumman’s Pegasus XL — an air-launched rocket that last flew in 2021 — to carry Katalyst’s LINK spacecraft on a robotic rendezvous and orbit-boost mission scheduled for June 2026.
NASA awarded Katalyst a $30 million contract to attempt the first-ever commercial robotic capture of an uncrewed government satellite. Swift operates in a low-inclination orbit (about 20.6°) that’s hard to reach from typical US launch sites, making Pegasus’ air-launch capability a practical choice despite its inactivity in recent years. The mission must meet tight schedule, orbit and cost constraints to succeed.
Key Points
- Katalyst selected Northrop Grumman’s Pegasus XL to launch its LINK spacecraft for a Swift rescue mission planned for June 2026.
- Swift has a roughly 50% chance of uncontrolled reentry by mid-2026 and 90% by year-end if not boosted.
- NASA awarded a $30 million contract to Katalyst to perform a robotic orbit boost — a first for a commercial vehicle capturing an uncrewed government satellite.
- Swift’s low 20.6° inclination makes conventional small rockets from US sites unsuitable; Pegasus’ air-launch from the Lockheed L-1011 Stargazer can reach the required orbit.
- Cost, schedule and unique orbital requirements drove the choice of Pegasus, even though it hasn’t flown since 2021; launch pricing must fit within the $30m mission budget.
Why should I read this?
Because it’s a proper space-drama: an antique rocket gets dusted off to save a beloved telescope. If you like clever engineering, tense timelines and firsts — this mission ticks all the boxes. Also, it’s the sort of niche launch decision that shows how weirdly specific mission needs can resurrect older hardware.
Context and relevance
This mission highlights several broader trends: growing commercial-government collaboration in on-orbit servicing, the value of niche launch architectures (air-launch) for unusual orbits, and the increasing use of robotic servicing missions to extend the life of valuable science assets. Successfully boosting Swift would preserve unique gamma-ray burst science and set a precedent for future commercial rescues or servicing jobs.