A robotic spacecraft will attempt the first-ever rescue of an unprepared NASA satellite, racing against time and atmospheric drag.

The Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory, launched in 2004, has spent two decades capturing key data on gamma-ray bursts, the most powerful explosions in the universe. Swift remains fully operational, but orbital decay gives it a 50% chance of uncontrolled reentry by mid-2026, increasing to 90% by the end of 2026. As its altitude drops, atmospheric drag intensifies, leading the satellite closer to the point where it will burn up in Earth’s atmosphere. With no replacement planned, its loss would mean the disappearance of a key scientific capability.

The Rescue Plan

To prevent that outcome, NASA has awarded Katalyst Space Technologies a $30 million contract to mount a first-of-its-kind rescue. Katalyst will launch a robotic servicer designed to autonomously approach, capture, and reposition Swift into a more stable orbit.

Once launched and in orbit, Katalyst’s robotic spacecraft will approach the Swift telescope with a series of precise maneuvers known as rendezvous proximity operations (RPO).

Unlike the Hubble Space Telescope, which was serviced by astronauts aboard the Space Shuttle, Swift was never designed to be captured, much less rescued. There are no docking ports or grappling fixtures to grab onto. Instead, Katalyst’s servicer will rely on a custom-built robotic capture mechanism that will attach to a feature on the satellite’s main structure--without damaging sensitive instruments. Demonstrating this kind of delicate, do-no-harm servicing on an unprepared satellite would be a first for NASA, and has the potential to unlock a new era of on-orbit servicing where satellites can be routinely and regularly serviced instead of thrown away.  

The schedule is also unprecedented: while satellite servicing typically takes years to plan, Katalyst must be ready to launch in eight months, with docking operations scheduled for mid-2026, to save Swift before it burns up.

“Given how quickly Swift’s 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,” said Shawn Domagal-Goldman, acting director, Astrophysics Division, NASA Headquarters. “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.”

Katalyst was already on schedule for an in-space demonstration of its rendezvous, proximity operations, and docking technology for June 2026. The demonstration would buy down technical risk ahead of the planned launch of Katalyst’s multi-mission robotic spacecraft, NEXUS, in 2027. When NASA raised the alarm about Swift, Katalyst seized the opportunity to pivot to a live rescue operation which would demonstrate similar capabilities.

"This is about saving a world-class science asset while proving the United States can execute rapid, on-orbit response," said Ghonhee Lee, CEO of Katalyst. "We’re demonstrating that when the need arises, we can go from identifying the problem to executing a robotic docking mission in less than a year."

National Security Stakes

The mission to rescue Swift isn’t just about saving a key scientific asset; it’s also a test of broader U.S. capabilities in space. What makes it so consequential is the combination of speed and capability. Katalyst is moving from contract award to launch in just eight months, an unprecedented pace in space operations. But equally important is what Katalyst will demonstrate once in orbit: the ability to approach, capture, and maneuver a satellite that was never designed for docking.

Most spacecraft in orbit today are unprepared for servicing. Being able to safely secure and reposition an operational satellite would give the U.S. a capability no other nation has demonstrated. In 2022, China towed a dead satellite into a different orbit with its SJ-21 space tug, but Katalyst’s mission is more complex: precision capture, delicate handling, and an orbit raise that preserves a fully operational spacecraft—all within 8 months.

The responsive timeline for this mission is critical because the difficulty of accessing space means satellites are particularly vulnerable. Satellites aren’t typically built for repairs, refueling, or second chances when something goes wrong. Because of this, the U.S. is limited in its ability to respond to threats within relevant timelines.

“Sustained space maneuver is crucial to our resilience and lethality through the mobility and endurance of our spacecraft,” said Gen. Stephen Whiting, Commander of U.S. Space Command, during the Space & Missile Defense Symposium in Huntsville last August. 

If successful, the mission will demonstrate something no other nation has achieved: a rapid, robotic response that can grab an unprepared operational satellite, maneuver it safely, and extend its life. It’s a capability with profound implications for science, the growth of the space economy, and national security.

Looking Ahead

Katalyst is working with the Department of Defense to show how satellites can be repositioned, serviced, or rescued in months rather than years. In a global space environment where China and other nations have already demonstrated aggressive maneuvering, the United States is under pressure to prove it can do the same.

Earlier this year, Katalyst won the U.S. Space Command Sustained Space Maneuver Challenge and was awarded a $1.9 million contract to advance its rendezvous, proximity operations, and docking technologies. These capabilities are designed to underwrite some of the biggest hurdles facing U.S. government satellites, whether it’s extending the life of critical DoD assets or preventing space observatories like the Hubble Space Telescope from an early end of service. 

Katalyst’s robotic spacecraft makes this possible by autonomously approaching, capturing, and upgrading satellites that were never built for docking, turning one-shot missions into long-term, adaptable platforms. That vision becomes reality in 2027 with Katalyst’s NEXUS servicer spacecraft, which will demonstrate its first operational mission in geostationary orbit by attaching new hardware to a U.S. Space Force satellite on orbit. After installing new hardware on the Space Force satellite, NEXUS will go on to service a commercial customer, demonstrating how a single robotic platform can deliver key capabilities to both government and commercial customers.