NASA Launches Mission to Boost Swift Observatory's Orbit from Marshall Islands

Jeanette Kazmierczak

21h ago· 2 min readenNews

Summary

A mission to boost the orbit of NASA's Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory launched on July 3 from Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands. The mission uses a robotic servicing spacecraft called LINK, built by Katalyst Space, which was deployed via a Northrop Grumman Pegasus XL rocket launched from a modified L-1011 aircraft (Stargazer) at about 40,000 feet. The operation aims to counteract atmospheric drag that gradually reduces the altitude of spacecraft in low Earth orbit.

Source

Twitter / XNASA Launches Mission to Boost Swift Observatory's Orbit from Marshall Islandsscience.nasa.gov

Key quotes

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A mission to raise the altitude of NASA's Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory is underway after launching at 8:36 p.m. Marshall Islands Time (4:36 a.m. EDT), Friday, July 3, from Kwajalein Atoll in the South Pacific Ocean.

LINK, a robotic servicing spacecraft built by Katalyst Space, launched into orbit on a Northrop Grumman Pegasus XL rocket, which was deployed by the company's Stargazer, a modified L-1011 aircraft, at an altitude of about 40,000 feet.

Our planet's atmosphere creates drag for spacecraft in low Earth orbit, gradually reducing their altitude if they don't have propulsion systems.

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A mission to raise the orbit of NASA’s Swift observatory has reached orbit.

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