TheTechno Optimist.

LINKKatalyst Space—NASA calls off LINK's capture and boost of Swift; craft will only practise approaching itLINKKatalyst Space—Katalyst's LINK hits reaction-wheel failures and a multi-axis spin weeks after launchLINKKatalyst Space—LINK reenters after 85 days, having come within 12-15 km of SwiftKatalyst Space—Katalyst raises $12M led by Geodesic Capital ahead of the Swift mission

Katalyst Space

Robotic satellite servicing, LINK

USprivatekatalystspace.com (opens katalystspace.com)Checked 11 Oct

The brief

Analyst view
  • Won a $30M NASA contract in Sep 2025 to boost the decaying Swift observatory, and launched LINK about nine months later.
  • LINK spun out of control after launch, never captured Swift and reentered in Sep 2026, but tested its arms and thrusters.
  • Raised $12M in June 2026; next aims a servicing craft (NEXUS) at high geostationary orbit, planned for 2027.

Technical approach

As reported
Capture

Grab satellites never built to be grabbed

Robotic arms with grippers hold onto existing parts of a satellite, so old spacecraft without docking ports can still be serviced.

Propulsion

Electric thrusters for slow, efficient pushes

Xenon electric thrusters fling charged gas out very fast on little propellant, so the servicer can raise a heavy client's orbit over months.

Speed

Build in months, not years

Through an existing NASA small-business contract route, LINK was designed, built, tested and launched in under nine months.

Products

Life extension and upgrades

Its planned NEXUS craft would reposition, repair, refuel or refit satellites already in orbit.

Primer