WASHINGTON — Katalyst Space Technologies has acquired Atomos Space, a move that combines two venture-funded startups focused on in-space servicing and orbital transfer vehicles.
Arizona-based Katalyst completed the acquisition of Colorado-based Atomos in March for an undisclosed amount. Atomos developed Quark, a reusable orbital transfer vehicle (OTV) or “space tug” designed to transport payloads to their orbital destinations.
“The combined team will develop and launch spacecraft capable of rendezvous and docking to perform life extension, spacecraft upgrades, and space domain awareness,” Ghonhee Lee, chief executive of Katalyst Space, said April 24.
The company is targeting opportunities to service or upgrade commercial and military satellites. “We’re excited to integrate Atomos’ technology and team to build towards a combined vision centered around rendezvous and proximity operations,” he said.
Atomos completed its first demonstration mission in March 2024, involving the Quark-LITE vehicle and a target spacecraft called Gluon. The mission tested and validated capabilities like orbital transfers, docking, and in-space refueling, despite encountering issues such as spacecraft tumbling and communication glitches.
Lee told SpaceNews that data and lessons from that mission are being used to develop a next-generation platform designed for missions in geostationary orbit, a prime location for communications and observation satellites.
Manufacturing facility in Colorado
Katalyst, headquartered in Flagstaff, Ariz., will continue to operate Atomos’ 20,000-square-foot manufacturing and testing facility outside Denver, where Quark vehicles are built. Vanessa Clark, co-founder of Atomos, is joining Katalyst as part of the deal.
Clark said the combined entity will offer “full-stack mission solutions,” with a spacecraft platform, rendezvous and proximity operations tech, and upgrade packages developed in-house.
In-space servicing, once a niche concept, has gained traction as both commercial and government operators seek to extend the life of aging satellites and reduce space debris. Companies like Katalyst and Atomos are developing technologies to perform complex operations like installing new components or repositioning spacecraft.
“Customers like the Space Force have signaled that there’s demand, but only if mission economics and operational timelines make sense,” Lee said.
Katalyst recently unveiled a new docking architecture that relies on OTVs and doesn’t require satellites to carry special hardware such as robotic arms or sensors. The company says this could open the door for servicing “unprepared” satellites — those not originally designed for upgrades or refueling.
The startup is now planning a geostationary orbit (GEO) demonstration mission, tentatively scheduled for late 2026.
“This is one of the key synergies and reasons behind the acquisition,” Lee said. “We will use the same vehicle to service commercial life extension customers as well as DoD missions.”
