In a high-stakes operation, a three-armed spacecraft named Link, launched by Katalyst Space Technologies and propelled into orbit by Northrop Grumman's Pegasus rocket, is on a mission to rescue the ailing NASA Swift Observatory. The telescope, which was launched in 2004 and has been monitoring some of the universe's most significant explosions like gamma ray bursts and supernovae, is plummeting back towards Earth due to recent solar storms. The swift mission, which took only nine months to assemble, aims to raise Swift's altitude by 150 miles (240 kilometers), allowing it to continue its vital observations. NASA has allocated $30 million for the recovery effort. The telescope is currently orbiting at an altitude of 224 miles (360 kilometers) above Earth, and if successful, it could be back in operation by September. If not rescued, Swift is predicted to plunge to its destruction in October due to increased atmospheric drag caused by the sun's outbursts. NASA's Hubble Space Telescope may also require a similar salvage operation in the future as it too is experiencing altitude loss due to solar storms.