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Katalyst Space and NASA have canceled an attempt to use the Link spacecraft to capture the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory and raise its orbit after persistent spacecraft attitude-control problems. The remaining operations will be limited to proximity and maneuvering tests near the observatory, which NASA expects to reenter the atmosphere later in 2026.
The Defense Innovation Unit and the U.S. Space Development Agency selected D-Orbit, Firefly Aerospace, and Katalyst Space to study a commercial service for capturing aging, unprepared-for-servicing satellites and removing them from orbit. The agencies will assess technical maturity, schedule, and cost before deciding on an in-orbit demonstration.