![\"LINK](\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/ne201077-2581x1494-1.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure>NASA will host an audio-only media teleconference at 11 a.m. EDT, Wednesday, June 17, to preview the Katalyst Space mission to boost the orbit of NASA\u2019s Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory.<\/p>\n
Katalyst\u2019s robotic servicing spacecraft, called LINK, will attempt to rendezvous with Swift and raise its altitude, extending its science mission lifespan and advancing a key capability for the future of space exploration. The LINK spacecraft will launch on Northrop Grumman\u2019s Pegasus XL rocket later this month from Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands.<\/p>\n
Media interested in participating by phone must RSVP no later than two hours before the start of the call to Amy Barra at: amy.l.barra@nasa.gov<\/a>. NASA\u2019s media accreditation policy<\/a> is available online.<\/p>\n Audio of the media teleconference will stream on the agency\u2019s website at:<\/p>\n https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/live<\/a><\/p>\n Participants in the media teleconference include:<\/p>\n The Swift mission, which launched in 2004, leads NASA\u2019s fleet of telescopes in studying changes in the high-energy universe, like gamma-ray bursts, which are the most powerful explosions in the cosmos. When a rapid, sudden event takes place in the sky, Swift serves as a \u201cdispatcher,\u201d providing critical information that allows other \u201cfirst responder\u201d missions to follow up to learn more about how the universe works.<\/p>\n After 21 years, Swift\u2019s low Earth orbit has begun to rapidly decay because of increased solar activity. Rather than allowing the observatory to re-enter Earth\u2019s atmosphere, as many missions do at the end of their lifetimes, NASA is using this opportunity to advance U.S. spacecraft servicing technology. In September 2025, NASA awarded<\/a> a contract to Katalyst to mount a robotic servicing mission for Swift in less than a year. The mission will use LINK to rendezvous with Swift and boost it to a higher altitude, demonstrating a key capability for the future of space exploration. The mission is targeted for launch in June from Kwajalein Atoll, Marshall Islands.<\/p>\n Learn more about the mission to boost Swift\u2019s orbit at:<\/p>\n https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/mission\/swift\/swift-boost-mission\/<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n -end-<\/p>\n Karen Fox \/ Alise Fisher Amy Barra\n
Headquarters, Washington
202-385-1287 \/ 202-358-2546
karen.c.fox@nasa.gov<\/a> \/ alise.m.fisher@nasa.gov<\/a><\/p>\n
Wallops Flight Facility, Wallops Island, Va.
757-824-1579
amy.l.barra@nasa.gov<\/a><\/p>\nShare<\/h2>\n<\/p><\/div>\n