Robot boost for Swift

NASA says Katalyst’s LINK robotic servicing spacecraft will launch on Northrop Grumman’s Pegasus XL in June, rendezvous with the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory, and raise its altitude to extend the telescope’s science mission.

1. Frame 1NASA plans a robotic LINK spacecraft boost to raise Swift's orbit and extend its gamma-ray burst mission.
2. Frame 2Pegasus XL carries LINK toward a June launch.
3. Frame 3LINK has to rendezvous with the aging telescope before it can raise the orbit.
4. Frame 4A clean boost could buy more years of Swift alerts for gamma-ray bursts.
5. Frame 5The mission still has to fly, catch its target, and perform the orbit raise.