NASA has awarded Katalyst Space Technologies a $30 million contract to attempt a first-of-its-kind orbital boost of the Swift spacecraft, targeting a 2026 rendezvous to raise its decaying orbit and avert reentry — a race against the clock as Swift's orbit continues to drop.
Discovered |
Briefing
NASA's $30 million award to Katalyst funds an operational test of commercial in‑orbit life extension: a 2026 rendezvous to raise Swift's decaying orbit and delay its expected reentry. See NASA's earlier study selection to assess Swift orbit-raise for background: https://hype.aero/?story=0664d54f-89cb-4398-976a-983ba19caf3c
The contract follows NASA work on robotic rendezvous and servicing (including a Momentus systems study) and other in‑orbit refueling/conops efforts, underscoring the agency's continued reliance on commercial vendors to provide on-orbit sustainment capabilities: https://hype.aero/?story=fb688afd-f1b2-44a2-84be-28449cdeec8b and https://hype.aero/?story=37dc618c-a278-45c4-8836-1d2d3f095aff
Reported By
Hype groups these reports into one evolving story so you can compare coverage without losing the thread.
