NASA Grants Contract to Company for Innovative Swift Spacecraft Orbit Enhancement

NASA is pushing innovation in the American space industry by teaming up with Katalyst Space Technologies in Flagstaff, Arizona. They have a contract to boost the orbit of their Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory. This project aims to showcase the future of space exploration and extend the life of the Swift mission.

Launched in 2004, Swift was designed to study gamma-ray bursts, which are powerful cosmic events. Over time, satellites, including Swift, experience a slow decay in their orbit. Recently, increased solar activity has caused Swift’s orbit to decay faster than expected. While it would be easier to let Swift re-enter Earth’s atmosphere, this situation offers a chance to enhance technology for servicing spacecraft.

Nicky Fox, a NASA associate administrator, highlighted the collaboration as a key example of how NASA supports the industry. The agency aims to develop quick, innovative solutions that strengthen American leadership in space. This mission is notable for its rapid development timeline, with plans to adjust Swift’s orbit by spring 2026.

“It’s a race against time,” said Shawn Domagal-Goldman from NASA. The goal is to use existing commercial technologies to address Swift’s declining orbit efficiently. He emphasized that this approach is not only affordable when compared to launching a new mission but also beneficial for the nation by expanding satellite servicing options.

Swift plays a crucial role in studying high-energy events in the universe. It acts like a dispatcher, alerting other missions about sudden cosmic occurrences. For more than twenty years, Swift has contributed valuable insights, helping us understand everything from exploding stars to high-energy phenomena on Earth.

NASA has allocated $30 million to Katalyst under the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program. This funding accelerates development, allowing a quicker solution to the orbit issue. Clayton Turner from NASA noted that America’s space economy is rich with innovative solutions. Collaborations like this could lead to opportunities to extend the lives of more spacecraft in the future.

The SBIR program is part of America’s Seed Fund, which supports small businesses and startups with funding and resources. This initiative aims to enhance NASA missions while tackling various national challenges.

NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center manages the Swift mission alongside partners like Penn State and the Los Alamos National Laboratory.

This collaboration not only addresses urgent challenges but also showcases the potential for future advancements in space technology. For those interested in following the ongoing Swift mission, more information can be found here.

Source link

Goddard Space Flight Center, Missions, NASA Headquarters, Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory, SBIR, Space Technology Mission Directorate