Northrop Grumman Space SystemsLaunch SuccessfulMission Extension

Swift Boost Mission

Name: Pegasus XL | Swift Boost Mission
Start: 2026-07-03T08:36:00Z
Location: Kwajalein Atoll, Air launch to orbit

Pegasus XL

Launched Fri, Jul 3 · 8:36 AM UTC2026-07-03 08:36 UTCKwajalein Atoll, Air launch to orbit

Reached orbit

Follow Northrop Grumman Space Systems in the app Northrop Grumman Space Systems updates

Success

Reached Low Earth Orbit

The second stage shut down at T+2:50 and released the payload at T+12:44.

Worldwide

158th

orbital launch attempt in 2026

Northrop Grumman Space Systems

2nd

launch this year

Kwajalein Atoll

1st

launch from this pad this year

Pad turnaround

5132 d 16 h

since the pad's previous launch

The Flight Plan

Planned times, from liftoff at 8:36 AM UTC. The result is at the top of the page.

Ascent5

T+0:008:36 AMFirst upwards movement of the rocket
T+0:058:36 AMStart of the engine ignition sequence
T+1:198:37 AMCut-off of the main engine
T+1:358:37 AMStart of the second engine
T+2:178:38 AMSeparation of the payload fairing

Second Stage and Payload4

T+2:508:38 AMCut-off of the second engine
T+6:358:42 AMThird stage engine ignites.
T+7:448:43 AMThird stage engine shuts down.
T+12:448:48 AMFinal deployment of the payload from the rocket

Mission

Contracted by NASA under the Small Business Innovation Research Phase 3 contract, Katalyst Space Technologies' LINK servicing spacecraft will rendezvous and attach to NASA’s Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory to re-boost its orbit. This aims to demonstrate a key capability for the future of space exploration and extending the Swift mission’s science lifetime in gamma ray astronomy.

Launch Provider

Northrop Grumman Space Systems

Commercial · United States of America · Founded 2015 · CEO Kathy Warden

Northrup Grumman Space Systems designs, builds and delivers space, defence and aviation-related systems to customers around the world. They aquired Orbital ATK in 2018 along with its launchers and ongoing missions.

Launches

Successful

100%

Upcoming

scheduled

FliesAntares Minotaur Pegasus Cygnus

All Northrop Grumman Space Systems launches Website Wikipedia

Updates

Jul 3 · 10:50 AM
Launched and reached orbit.
hitura-nobad
Jul 3 · 2:09 AM
Rescheduled for July 3.
Cosmic_Penguin
Jul 2 · 11:27 AM
Scrub due to launch vehicle issue.
Cosmic_Penguin
Jul 1 · 11:52 AM
Delayed again due to weather
Nosu
Jun 30 · 11:21 AM
Scrubbed due to weather
SwGustav

Show earlier updates

Jun 30 · 4:23 AM
Adjusted T-0.
Cosmic_Penguin
Jun 26 · 5:26 PM
Refined T-0.
Cosmic_Penguin
Jun 26 · 11:49 AM
Delayed to NET June 30 per new marine navigation warnings.
Cosmic_Penguin
Jun 18 · 6:06 AM
GO for launch.
Cosmic_Penguin
Jun 16 · 1:43 PM
NET June 27 per NOTAMs, TBC.
Cosmic_Penguin
May 8 · 6:21 PM
NET June.
Cosmic_Penguin
Jan 4 · 10:42 PM
NET June 1st.
Cosmic_Penguin
Nov 19 · 4:01 PM
Added launch.
Cosmic_Penguin

Pegasus XL

Vehicle history

Height

17.6m

Diameter

1.3m

To low Earth orbit

443kg

Liftoff thrust

580kN

Space Launch Now for iOS and Android

Notifications before every launch you follow, live countdowns on your home screen and watch, and webcasts as they start.

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Northrop Grumman Space SystemsLaunch SuccessfulMission Extension

Swift Boost Mission

Pegasus XL

Launched Fri, Jul 3 · 8:36 AM UTC2026-07-03 08:36 UTCKwajalein Atoll, Air launch to orbit

Reached orbit

Follow Northrop Grumman Space Systems in the app Northrop Grumman Space Systems updates

Success

Reached Low Earth Orbit

The second stage shut down at T+2:50 and released the payload at T+12:44.

Worldwide

158th

orbital launch attempt in 2026

Northrop Grumman Space Systems

2nd

launch this year

Kwajalein Atoll

1st

launch from this pad this year

Pad turnaround

5132 d 16 h

since the pad's previous launch

The Flight Plan

Planned times, from liftoff at 8:36 AM UTC. The result is at the top of the page.

Ascent5

T+0:008:36 AMFirst upwards movement of the rocket
T+0:058:36 AMStart of the engine ignition sequence
T+1:198:37 AMCut-off of the main engine
T+1:358:37 AMStart of the second engine
T+2:178:38 AMSeparation of the payload fairing

Second Stage and Payload4

T+2:508:38 AMCut-off of the second engine
T+6:358:42 AMThird stage engine ignites.
T+7:448:43 AMThird stage engine shuts down.
T+12:448:48 AMFinal deployment of the payload from the rocket

Mission

Launch Provider

Northrop Grumman Space Systems

Commercial · United States of America · Founded 2015 · CEO Kathy Warden

Launches

Successful

100%

Upcoming

scheduled

FliesAntares Minotaur Pegasus Cygnus

All Northrop Grumman Space Systems launches Website Wikipedia

Updates

Jul 3 · 10:50 AM
Launched and reached orbit.
hitura-nobad
Jul 3 · 2:09 AM
Rescheduled for July 3.
Cosmic_Penguin
Jul 2 · 11:27 AM
Scrub due to launch vehicle issue.
Cosmic_Penguin
Jul 1 · 11:52 AM
Delayed again due to weather
Nosu
Jun 30 · 11:21 AM
Scrubbed due to weather
SwGustav

Show earlier updates

Jun 30 · 4:23 AM
Adjusted T-0.
Cosmic_Penguin
Jun 26 · 5:26 PM
Refined T-0.
Cosmic_Penguin
Jun 26 · 11:49 AM
Delayed to NET June 30 per new marine navigation warnings.
Cosmic_Penguin
Jun 18 · 6:06 AM
GO for launch.
Cosmic_Penguin
Jun 16 · 1:43 PM
NET June 27 per NOTAMs, TBC.
Cosmic_Penguin
May 8 · 6:21 PM
NET June.
Cosmic_Penguin
Jan 4 · 10:42 PM
NET June 1st.
Cosmic_Penguin
Nov 19 · 4:01 PM
Added launch.
Cosmic_Penguin

Pegasus XL

Vehicle history

Height

17.6m

Diameter

1.3m

To low Earth orbit

443kg

Liftoff thrust

580kN

Space Launch Now for iOS and Android

Notifications before every launch you follow, live countdowns on your home screen and watch, and webcasts as they start.

See what's in the app

Scan to open on your phone

Swift Boost Mission

The Flight Plan

Ascent5

Second Stage and Payload4

Mission

Northrop Grumman Space Systems

Updates

Pegasus XL

Never Miss a Launch.

Swift Boost Mission

The Flight Plan

Ascent5

Second Stage and Payload4

Mission

Northrop Grumman Space Systems

Updates

Pegasus XL

Never Miss a Launch.