NASA has selected Arizona-based startup Katalyst Space Technologies to carry out a short-notice mission aimed at saving the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory, a $500 million space telescope in low-Earth orbit that has been gradually losing altitude. The U.S. space agency on Wednesday announced a $30 million contract for Katalyst to deploy a modified version of its “Link” spacecraft to dock with and boost the aging observatory, which has been monitoring black holes and distant galaxies since 2004.
The Swift telescope, positioned roughly 585 kilometers above Earth, has no onboard propulsion and was not designed to be serviced. Without intervention, NASA scientists estimate a 90% chance the spacecraft will burn up in the atmosphere by late 2026. Katalyst CEO Ghonhee Lee told Reuters the mission will target “an unprepared satellite that wasn’t designed to be serviced,” describing it as proof that the company’s technology can extend the life of satellites lacking docking hardware.
Katalyst plans to modify a spacecraft originally intended for an in-house demonstration mission, with work starting next month ahead of a planned launch in May 2026. The Link craft will use a robotic mechanism to clamp onto small metal rims, or flanges, on Swift’s structure. These rims were originally part of the observatory’s ground transport system but will now serve as docking points for the orbital maneuver.
The Pentagon is expected to closely monitor the operation as the U.S. and China expand their capabilities in space maneuvering and servicing. Chinese satellites have already demonstrated close-proximity operations and grappling technology, raising concerns among U.S. officials about potential military applications. Lee noted that while the Swift mission is focused on a civil science satellite, the broader implications for satellite servicing, defense, and space superiority are significant.
Katalyst’s satellite-servicing capabilities were bolstered earlier this year through its acquisition of Colorado-based Atomos Space. The company has invested $25 million into the Link spacecraft program and aims to produce robotic servicing satellites at costs “in the high-single-digit millions, or low-double-digit millions,” Lee said, far below the traditional price tags of hundreds of millions of dollars for conventional satellites.
