Katalyst Space Technologies has launched its Link satellite on a mission to rescue NASA’s Swift astronomy satellite, which is in danger of falling out of orbit. The launch took place over the Pacific Ocean on Independence Day weekend, initiating a weekslong effort to intercept and boost the altitude of the NASA spacecraft.
A First-of-Its-Kind Rescue
This mission represents the first time a commercial company has undertaken such a satellite rescue. NASA issued a request less than a year ago for proposals from companies capable of rapidly developing and launching a small satellite to attach to Swift and prevent its descent. Katalyst Space Technologies was awarded a contract last September to develop and execute this mission. Nine months later, their nearly half-ton Link satellite is now in orbit. The company’s ability to build, test, and launch a satellite of this size in under a year is considered a significant achievement in the space industry, where such timelines typically span several years.
Launch Operations
The Link satellite was integrated into the nose cone of a Northrop Grumman Pegasus XL rocket at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. The rocket and its L-1011 carrier aircraft were then transported to the US Army’s Ronald Reagan Space and Missile Test Range on Kwajalein Atoll, located in the Marshall Islands, approximately 2,000 miles southwest of Honolulu. Following a wait for favorable weather conditions, the rocket was released from the L-1011 carrier aircraft at an altitude of 41,000 feet. The launch occurred at 4:36 am EDT (08:36 UTC) on Friday, with the Pegasus XL igniting its first stage five seconds later to commence its ascent into orbit.
Norman Pearlstine is the Chief Editor of News Raise and focuses on Business news. His responsibility is to oversee the editorial content including business, commodities, personal investments and the stock market.
