Last mentioned: Jul 6, 2026
Mission in Progress
As of the article publication, Link is in orbit and beginning the weekslong process of rendezvous and preparation to boost Swift's altitude.
Launch from the Pacific
At 4:36 a.m. EDT, the Pegasus XL is dropped from the L-1011 at 41,000 feet and ignites, placing the Link satellite into orbit to begin its pursuit of Swift.
Satellite Integration and Transport
The Link satellite is encapsulated in the Pegasus XL payload fairing at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility, then flown aboard an L-1011 to Kwajalein Atoll.
NASA Awards Rescue Contract
NASA selects Katalyst Space Technologies from a competitive field to build and launch a satellite to boost the Swift observatory’s orbit.
NASA’s Swift observatory, facing imminent orbital decay, gets a lifeline as Katalyst’s Link satellite launches after a record nine-month development. The mission pioneers commercial satellite life extension for a government science asset.
JBS USA is closing two facilities, including a major beef plant in Pennsylvania, as it streamlines its production network. The move, affecting 1,485 workers, signals a strategic shift in meat supply chain management amid rising beef costs.
The closure of two JBS facilities threatens to tighten beef supplies for grocery stores and restaurants, just as consumer prices keep rising. With 1,485 jobs lost in Pennsylvania, retailers may face higher wholesale costs and potential shortages of popular beef brands.