A NASA Space Telescope Is Falling Out of the Sky. Can This Startup Save it?

NASA has awarded a critical $30 million contract to Arizona-based Katalyst Space Technologies for a daring mission to save the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory. This Earth-orbiting telescope faces a 90% chance of uncontrolled reentry by the end of 2026, a situation exacerbated by recent spikes in solar activity that have accelerated its orbital decay. While the observatory is expected to burn up harmlessly in the atmosphere, NASA aims to extend its operational lifespan, leveraging Katalyst's innovative approach to orbital maintenance.

Katalyst Space Technologies is developing the "LINK" spacecraft, designed for autonomous rendezvous and orbital boosting. The mission's tight deadline mandates a launch by June 2026, a challenge met by selecting Northrop Grumman’s Pegasus rocket. Pegasus is an air-launched vehicle, deployed from a carrier aircraft at 40,000 feet (12,000 meters) before igniting its engines. This method is crucial for reaching Swift's specific 20.6-degree orbital inclination, which avoids the South Atlantic Anomaly and would require excessive propellant for conventional ground launches.

The Pegasus rocket, making its first flight since 2021, offers a flight-proven, rapid-response solution that meets the mission's stringent orbit, timeline, and budget requirements. Once deployed, the LINK spacecraft will execute precise rendezvous proximity operations, using a custom-built robotic capture mechanism to attach to Swift and adjust its orbit. This mission not only preserves a valuable research asset but also demonstrates a vital new capability for NASA in rapid orbital decay response and spacecraft fleet maintenance in low-Earth orbit, highlighting the evolving role of commercial aviation technologies in space operations.