Startup Katalyst Space Technologies to attempt NASA Swift telescope rescue mission

Key facts

• NASA awarded a $30 million contract to Katalyst Space Technologies.
• Katalyst Space Technologies was founded in 2020.
• The contract aims to boost the orbit of the NASA Swift observatory.
• The Swift observatory is at risk of crashing to Earth due to atmospheric drag.
• NASA contracted Relativity Space to build and launch a spacecraft to Mars.
• The Mars mission is scheduled for launch by 2028.
• The mission is named Aeolus.
• Aeolus aims to provide daily atmospheric imaging of Mars.
• Eric Schmidt leads Relativity Space.

NASA is leveraging private space sector capabilities through two distinct contracts. The first involves startup Katalyst Space Technologies, founded in 2020, which has secured a $30 million contract from NASA. The objective of this contract is to launch a satellite specifically designed to increase the orbital altitude of NASA's Swift observatory. The Swift observatory is currently facing a risk of crashing back to Earth due to atmospheric drag, making this rescue mission critical for its continued operation.

In a separate development, NASA has contracted Relativity Space, an entity led by former Google executive Eric Schmidt, for a mission to Mars. Relativity Space is tasked with building and launching a spacecraft to the Red Planet with a target launch year of 2028. This mission, officially named Aeolus, has the primary goal of providing daily atmospheric imaging of Mars. This ambitious undertaking could potentially give Relativity Space a competitive advantage over other major players in Martian exploration, including SpaceX.

These contracts highlight NASA's strategy of partnering with commercial entities to achieve ambitious scientific and exploratory goals. The Swift telescope rescue mission addresses the immediate concern of orbital debris and the preservation of an active scientific instrument, while the Mars Aeolus mission represents a forward-looking investment in understanding and exploring another planet. The involvement of Relativity Space, with its stated aim of challenging established competitors like SpaceX, underscores the dynamic and competitive nature of the current space industry.