US Defense Agencies - Defense Innovation Unit (GOD) and the Space Development Agency (SDA) — selected three companies to study the possibility of providing commercial services
from removing satellites from orbit.
D-Orbit USA, Firefly Aerospace and Katalyst Space Awarded De-Orbit-as-a-Service Contracts. The work is aimed at safe rapprochement, capture and disposal of unprepared or uncooperative spacecraft. Companies will begin with preliminary design and risk mitigation measures. DIU and SDA will then assess technical maturity, approach to the mission, schedule and cost, to determine, which solution will progress to a full-scale on-orbit demonstration.
For reference: D-Orbit USA is a division of a private aerospace company, which specializes in the design and production of small satellite platforms for commercial and government customers.
Firefly Aerospace is a private aerospace company, which designs and manufactures light launch vehicles, spacecraft and provides services for launching small satellites and cubesats into orbit.
Katalyst Space Technologies is a privately held aerospace company, which develops robotic spacecraft and technologies to maintain satellites in orbit, extending their service life and active logistics in outer space.
These activities expand on SDA's previous efforts to develop commercial options for the disposal of satellites in low Earth orbit. IN 2024 the agency has already conducted a technical feasibility study with the participation of six companies, and Starfish Space subsequently received a contract for 52,5 million dollars. Firefly suggests using the Elytra maneuvering vehicle to approach, inspection and disposal. Katalyst conducts a hands-on test of capturing an unprepared machine using Link's robotic machine. D-Orbit USA specializes in space logistics.
A viable service must provide autonomous convergence, safe capture without the generation of debris and sufficient traction for disposal at an economically acceptable price.
Source: https://spacenews.com