                        Astronomy Picture of the Day

    Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our
      fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation
                    written by a professional astronomer.

                                 2026 July 8

                             Swift Boost Mission
                        Image Credit: Katalyst Space
             Text: Cecilia Chirenti (NASA GSFC, UMCP, CRESST II)

   Explanation: Sometimes we can all use a little help from a friend.
   NASA's Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory needs a boost to stay in orbit
   after almost 22 years of service. This video shows an artist's
   visualization of the Swift Boost Mission: The Katalyst's LINK
   spacecraft was launched aboard a Northrop Grumman Pegasus XL rocket on
   July 3 and it is now en route to rendezvous with Swift and boost it to
   a higher orbit over the course of the next several months. This type of
   maneuver has never been attempted before. If successful, it will be the
   technology demonstration of a new key capability to extended the
   lifetime of spacecraft in low Earth orbit, whose orbits decay over
   time. Swift has an array of instruments that observe the most energetic
   explosions in the Universe in gamma-rays, X-rays and ultraviolet, and
   the unique ability to repoint in their direction within tens of
   seconds. Astronomers around the world, and indeed all fans of cosmic
   explosions, are anxiously hoping for a successful mission!

                       Tomorrow's picture: Cosmic bat
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       Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)
            NASA Official: Amber Straughn Specific rights apply.
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                      A service of: ASD at NASA / GSFC,
                           NASA Science Activation
                             & Michigan Tech. U.

