NASA launched a mission to raise the orbit of the space agency's Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory, in order to extend the satellite's operational life.
LINK, a robotic service spacecraft developed by Katalyst Space, launched into orbit aboard a Northrop Grumman Pegasus XL rocket at 4:36 a.m. Eastern Time from Kwajalein Atoll in the South Pacific Ocean.
The air-launched rocket was released at an altitude of about 12,200 meters by Northrop Grumman's Stargazer, a modified L-1011 aircraft, then ignited its engines and carried LINK into its planned orbit.
According to NASA, Earth's atmosphere creates a drag force on spacecraft in low-Earth orbit, which gradually lowers the spacecraft's altitude if it does not have a propulsion system to maintain orbit.
Increased solar activity in recent years has accelerated the decay of Swift Observatory's orbit, causing it to lose altitude more rapidly than expected.
NASA awarded Katalyst Space a contract in September of last year to raise Swift Observatory's orbit. In less than a year, Katalyst Space designed, built, tested, and launched LINK, which is designed to rendezvous with Swift Observatory, capture it, and then raise it to a higher orbit.
After LINK successfully enters orbit on Friday, the mission team will first receive signals from the spacecraft to ensure that its solar panels are properly installed and its power system is functioning normally, NASA said.
Launched in 2004, Swift Observatory studies gamma-ray bursts, the most powerful explosions in the universe, and other high-energy cosmic phenomena.
The observatory has three multi-wavelength telescopes, which collect data in visible light, ultraviolet, X-rays, and gamma rays, NASA said.
