NASA bets $30M on daring rescue to save its aging Swift telescope
NASA is funding a $30 million, first-of-its-kind rescue mission (Swift Boost) to capture and reboost the aging Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory using Katalyst Space’s Link, aiming to extend the telescope’s life by years; the risky rendezvous would launch June 27, 2026 on a Pegasus XL rocket, or Swift could burn up in Earth’s atmosphere.