NASA Selects Orbital Infrastructure Firm to Study In-Space Cargo Return Hangar
Six-Month Award Will Test Feasibility of Housing Multiple Return Vehicles on One Platform
NASA has selected Gravitics, Inc. for a Small Business Innovation Research Phase I award to study a hangar system designed to return cargo from low Earth orbit on a more regular schedule.
“Gravitics remains focused on cargo logistics solutions for low Earth orbit.”
Colin Doughan, Gravitics
The Seattle-based orbital infrastructure company will use the six-month award to evaluate the technical merit and feasibility of the Multiple-Downmass Hangar, a platform designed to hold several return vehicles at once so customers can bring materials home without waiting on a dedicated flight, according to a news release. NASA announced its 2026 SBIR Phase I selections Aug. 6, the release said.
The award is subject to contract negotiation through the NASA Shared Services Center, the release said. It did not specify a dollar figure for Gravitics’ award; the SBIR/STTR program, known as America’s Seed Fund, funds early-stage technology development at NASA and other federal agencies.
“Gravitics remains focused on cargo logistics solutions for low Earth orbit,” said Colin Doughan, chief executive officer of Gravitics. “Adding innovative return capability is a natural evolution of our current cargo delivery architecture, and we look forward to advancing this technology with NASA.”
Material return has been a persistent constraint for companies conducting research or manufacturing on orbit, according to the release, which said the hangar concept is intended to give customers more control over when they bring samples and other materials back to Earth.
Gravitics is currently executing a STRATFI contract with the U.S. Space Force and says it is developing its first commercial cargo-delivery partnerships to low Earth orbit destinations, according to the release.
The next step is contract negotiation between Gravitics and NASA’s Shared Services Center.