In a significant leap for satellite servicing technology, Arizona-based startup Katalyst Space has announced a partnership with European aerospace innovator LMO Space to demonstrate a new approach to spacecraft docking known as "assisted rendezvous and proximity operations" (RPO). The demonstration mission, planned for 2026 in geostationary Earth orbit (GEO), aims to make spacecraft docking more affordable, scalable, and less complex — with major implications for both commercial and military space operations.
Credit: Katalyst Space
At the heart of the project is Katalyst’s novel use of an Orbital Transfer Vehicle (OTV) — a spacecraft that moves payloads between orbits — to support docking operations. Unlike traditional RPO, where a servicing spacecraft must execute all phases of the mission from launch to close-range maneuvering, the assisted RPO method offloads part of the work to an OTV, allowing the servicing satellite to arrive nearer its target with less effort and fewer onboard systems.
“This is a big step toward making satellite servicing a practical, repeatable capability,” said Ghonhee Lee, CEO of Katalyst. “Spacecraft docking has huge potential, but the complexity and cost have made it rare. Our architecture could change that.”
Katalyst’s assisted RPO technology was recently recognized as one of the winning solutions in the U.S. Space Command and AFWERX Sustained Space Maneuver Challenge — a competition aimed at leveraging commercial technology for national security. As part of the win, Katalyst secured a $1.9 million contract from AFWERX, the Department of the Air Force's innovation arm, to further develop its assisted RPO architecture.
While the AFWERX funding supports the technology’s development, it does not cover the costs of the actual demonstration mission. However, Katalyst has already secured a rideshare launch for the mission, which will pair its tech with LMO’s AI-powered navigation software, Vision & Spectre.
“This mission demonstrates how commercial collaboration can strengthen U.S. and allied space capabilities,” said Michel Poucet, CEO of Luxembourg-based LMO Space. “Our software is built for precision navigation and awareness in space, and we’re excited to apply it to this critical challenge.”
How Assisted RPO Works
Katalyst’s approach to RPO reimagines the conventional satellite servicing workflow. The company’s system includes two main components:
- A deployable payload or freeflyer that captures high-resolution imagery of the target spacecraft from close range.
- A hosted payload that collects range data from a separate vantage point aboard the OTV.
“The two different angles allow for much greater precision,” explained Lee. The data from both sources is processed by LMO’s machine learning algorithms, which guide the servicing satellite to its target — without relying on LIDAR, the standard (but costly) technology used in most RPO missions today.
Instead, Katalyst’s concept makes use of common visible-light cameras, which are cheaper, more readily available, and easier to integrate. “This means we can proliferate these capabilities much more rapidly than traditional RPO satellites,” Lee noted.
Military and Strategic Implications
For military applications, the benefits of assisted RPO are especially compelling. By enabling remote upgrades or repairs without large, robotic servicing vehicles, the technique reduces visibility and the likelihood of detection — an advantage in contested space environments.
Lee said the company is still finalizing which OTV provider will support the 2026 demonstration, noting that four partners are currently under consideration, with negotiations underway through Space Force procurement channels.
As satellite servicing becomes more viable and scalable, the collaboration between Katalyst Space and LMO may mark a turning point in the evolution of in-orbit operations — laying the groundwork for a new era of adaptable, cost-effective space infrastructure.
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