The Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory

The Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory

Swift satellite artists conception Gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) are the most powerful explosions the Universe has seen since the Big Bang. They occur approximately once per day and are brief, but intense, flashes of gamma radiation. They come from all different directions of the sky and last from a few milliseconds to a few hundred seconds. So far scientists do not know what causes them. Do they signal the birth of a black hole in a massive stellar explosion? Are they the product of the collision of two neutron stars? Or is it some other exotic phenomenon that causes these bursts?

With Swift, a NASA mission with international participation, scientists have a tool dedicated to answering these questions and solving the gamma-ray burst mystery. Its three instruments give scientists the ability to scrutinize gamma-ray bursts like never before. Within seconds of detecting a burst, Swift relays its location to ground stations, allowing both ground-based and space-based telescopes around the world the opportunity to observe the burst's afterglow. Swift is part of NASA's medium explorer (MIDEX) program and was launched into a low-Earth orbit on a Delta 7320 rocket on November 20, 2004. The Principal Investigator is Dr. Brad Cenko (NASA-GSFC).

NASA's Swift Sees 'Wandering' Mega Black Hole Shredding Star
NASA's Swift Sees 'Wandering' Mega Black Hole Shredding Star
This artist's concept depicts a tidal disruption event, which occurs when a star passes fatally close to a supermassive black hole. Crumbs of the splintering star heat up as they swirl around the black hole, creating a glow astronomers can see from far across the cosmos, and the black hole launches a relativistic jet into space. (NRAO/AUI/NSF/NASA)

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Swift's 20th Anniversary
Swift's 20th Anniversary

Swift Operations Status

Swift has suspended science observations to prioritize orbital lifetime in support of the reboost mission.

Latest Swift News

Aug 19, 2026

NASA Updates Next Steps for Commercial Swift Boost Mission

Due to an ongoing commercial spacecraft attitude control issue, NASA and Katalyst Space announced Wednesday the LINK spacecraft will not capture or boost an agency satellite to a higher altitude to extend its science mission as planned.
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Aug 11, 2026

NASA Swift Boost Spacecraft Prepares to Continue Mission

Katalyst Space successfully uploaded a flight software update for its LINK spacecraft, which is set to boost NASA's Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory to a higher orbit. The software update's new attitude control algorithms are designed to maintain LINK's stability using the spacecraft's remaining actuators.
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Aug 6, 2026

LINK Spacecraft Recovery Progressing for NASA's Swift Boost

Teams are preparing to take the next major recovery steps for Katalyst Space's robotic spacecraft LINK in orbit. During the last week, they've successfully reduced the spin of LINK, which is designed to boost NASA's Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory to a higher orbital altitude.
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