NASA Contracts Katalyst for Innovative Swift Spacecraft Orbit Boost
WASHINGTON – NASA has awarded a $30 million contract to Katalyst space Technologies to attempt an orbit boost for the Swift Spacecraft, extending the life of the valuable space telescope.The initiative represents a cost-effective choice to launching a new mission with comparable capabilities.
swift plays a crucial role in NASA’s network of space telescopes, specializing in the study of high-energy events in the universe. It acts as a “dispatcher,” quickly identifying transient cosmic events – such as exploding stars, stellar flares, and active galactic eruptions – and relaying information to other missions for more detailed examination. For over two decades, Swift has provided key insights into these phenomena, and also comets, asteroids, and even high-energy lightning on Earth.
The orbit of Swift is naturally decaying, necessitating intervention to maintain its operational altitude. Rather then developing a solution from scratch, NASA is leveraging existing commercial technologies through its Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program, managed by the Space technology mission Directorate. This Phase III award builds on Katalyst’s prior participation in the SBIR program, allowing for a faster advancement timeline than traditional methods.
“By leveraging commercial technologies that are already in development, we are meeting this challenge head-on,” stated Shawn Domagal-Goldman, acting director of NASA’s Astrophysics Division. “This is a forward-leaning, risk-tolerant approach for NASA. But attempting an orbit boost is both more affordable than replacing Swift’s capabilities with a new mission, and beneficial to the nation - expanding the use of satellite servicing to a new and broader class of spacecraft.”
Clayton turner, associate administrator of NASA’s Space technology Mission Directorate, emphasized the importance of collaboration with the private sector. “America’s space economy is brimming with cutting-edge solutions, and opportunities like this allow NASA to tap into them for real-world challenges,” he said. “Orbital 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.”
The NASA SBIR program,part of America’s seed Fund,provides early-stage,non-dilutive funding to small businesses (under 500 employees) to foster innovation and commercialization of technologies that benefit both NASA missions and national challenges.
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center manages the Swift mission, working with partners including Penn State, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Northrop Grumman Space Systems, the UK Space Agency, University of Leicester, Mullard Space Science Laboratory, Brera observatory, and the Italian Space Agency.
More information about the Swift mission can be found at: https://www.nasa.gov/swift