{"id":290876,"date":"2025-09-25T06:22:18","date_gmt":"2025-09-24T20:22:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/?guid=580a708cdea3241b967dfe36b1b1c46d"},"modified":"2025-09-25T06:22:18","modified_gmt":"2025-09-24T20:22:18","slug":"nasa-awards-company-to-attempt-swift-spacecraft-orbit-boost","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/?p=290876","title":{"rendered":"NASA Awards Company to Attempt Swift Spacecraft Orbit Boost"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"NASA\u2019s<\/a><\/figure>
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NASA\u2019s Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory, shown in this artist\u2019s concept, orbits Earth as it studies the ever-changing universe.<\/div>\n
Credit: NASA\u2019s Goddard Space Flight Center Conceptual Image Lab<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Driving rapid innovation in the American space industry, NASA has awarded Katalyst Space Technologies of Flagstaff, Arizona, a contract to raise a spacecraft’s orbit. Katalyst\u2019s robotic servicing spacecraft will rendezvous with NASA\u2019s Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory and raise it to a higher altitude, demonstrating a key capability for the future of space exploration and extending the Swift mission\u2019s science lifetime.<\/p>\n

NASA\u2019s Swift<\/a> launched in 2004 to explore the universe\u2019s most powerful explosions, called gamma-ray bursts. The spacecraft\u2019s low Earth orbit has been decaying gradually, which happens to satellites over time. However, because of recent increases in the Sun\u2019s activity, Swift is experiencing more atmospheric drag than anticipated, speeding up its orbital decay. While NASA could have allowed the observatory to reenter Earth\u2019s atmosphere, as many missions do at the end of their lifetimes, Swift\u2019s lowering orbit presents an opportunity to advance American spacecraft servicing technology.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis industry collaboration to boost Swift\u2019s orbit is just one of many ways NASA works for the nation every day,\u201d said Nicky Fox, associate administrator, Science Mission Directorate, NASA Headquarters in Washington. \u201cBy moving quickly to pursue innovative commercial solutions, we\u2019re further developing the space industry and strengthening American space leadership. This daring mission also will demonstrate our ability to go from concept to implementation in less than a year \u2014 a rapid-response capability important for our future in space as we send humans back to the Moon under the Artemis campaign, to Mars, and beyond.\u201d<\/p>\n

The orbit boost is targeted for spring 2026, though NASA will continue to monitor any changes in solar activity that may impact this target timeframe. A successful Swift boost would be the first time a commercial robotic spacecraft captures a government satellite that is uncrewed, or not originally designed to be serviced in space.<\/p>\n

\u201cGiven how quickly Swift\u2019s orbit is decaying, we are in a race against the clock, but by leveraging commercial technologies that are already in development, we are meeting this challenge head-on,\u201d said Shawn Domagal-Goldman, acting director, Astrophysics Division, NASA Headquarters. \u201cThis is a forward-leaning, risk-tolerant approach for NASA. But attempting an orbit boost is both more affordable than replacing Swift\u2019s capabilities with a new mission, and beneficial to the nation \u2014 expanding the use of satellite servicing to a new and broader class of spacecraft.\u201d<\/p>\n

Swift leads NASA\u2019s fleet of space telescopes in studying changes in the high-energy universe. When a rapid, sudden event takes place in the cosmos, Swift serves as a \u201cdispatcher,\u201d providing critical information that allows other \u201cfirst responder\u201d missions to follow up to learn more about how the universe works. For more than two decades, Swift has led NASA\u2019s missions in providing new insights on these events, together broadening our understanding of everything from exploding stars, stellar flares, and eruptions in active galaxies, to comets and asteroids in our own solar system and high-energy lightning events on Earth.<\/p>\n

NASA has awarded Katalyst $30 million to move forward with implementation under a Phase III award as an existing participant in NASA\u2019s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program<\/a>, managed by the agency\u2019s Space Technology Mission Directorate. This approach allowed NASA to pursue an orbit boost for Swift on a shorter development timeline than would otherwise be possible, given the rapid rate at which Swift\u2019s orbit is decaying.<\/p>\n

\u201cAmerica\u2019s space economy is brimming with cutting-edge solutions, and opportunities like this allow NASA to tap into them for real-world challenges,\u201d said Clayton Turner, associate administrator, NASA\u2019s Space Technology Mission Directorate, NASA Headquarters. \u201cOrbital decay is a common, natural occurrence for satellites, and this collaboration may open the door to extending the life of more spacecraft in the future. By working with industry, NASA fosters rapid, agile technology development, advancing capabilities to benefit the missions of today and unlock the discoveries of tomorrow.\u201d <\/p>\n

The NASA SBIR program is part of America\u2019s Seed Fund, the nation\u2019s largest source of early-stage, non-dilutive funding for innovative technologies. Through this program, entrepreneurs, startups, and small businesses with less than 500 employees can receive funding and non-monetary support to build, mature, and commercialize their technologies, advancing NASA missions and helping solve important challenges facing our country.<\/p>\n

NASA\u2019s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, manages the Swift mission in collaboration with Penn State, the Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico, and Northrop Grumman Space Systems in Dulles, Virginia. Other partners include the UK Space Agency, University of Leicester and Mullard Space Science Laboratory in the United Kingdom, Brera Observatory in Italy, and the Italian Space Agency.<\/p>\n

To learn more about the Swift mission, visit:<\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/swift<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

-end-<\/p>\n

Alise Fisher \/ Jasmine Hopkins
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-2546 \/ 321-432-4624
alise.m.fisher@nasa.gov<\/a> \/ jasmine.s.hopkins@nasa.gov<\/a><\/p>\n

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