NASA funds orbital hangar to make commercial space sample returns cheaper, faster

Orbital infrastructure company Gravitics has won a NASA award to develop an orbital hangar that could make it cheaper and more routine for companies to bring materials back from low Earth orbit. The Seattle-based company was selected for a 2026 NASA Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I award to develop its Multiple-Downmass Hangar. The six-month project will examine whether the system can provide a practical way to support more frequent commercial sample returns. The proposed hangar would be placed in orbit and hold multiple return vehicles on a single platform. Instead of waiting for a dedicated return flight, customers could use one of the vehicles when they need to bring samples or other materials produced in orbit back to Earth. Gravitics said returning material remains a constraint for companies conducting research and manufacturing in space. Its approach is intended to keep return vehicles available in orbit, giving customers more flexibility over when they send material home. Multiple vehicles, one platform The concept is aimed at building a more predictable logistics system for commercial activity in low Earth orbit. By keeping several return vehicles ready on an orbital platform, Gravitics wants to reduce the dependence on individual return missions and create a more regular return cadence. The company sees the system as an extension of its work on moving cargo in orbit. “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.” During Phase I, Gravitics will focus on the technical merit and feasibility of the Multiple-Downmass Hangar. The architecture is being designed around reducing the cost of returning mass from orbit while making more frequent returns possible. The need for such infrastructure could grow as more companies move research and manufacturing activities into space. Producing materials in orbit can offer advantages for certain applications, but those materials still need a reliable way to reach Earth for analysis, further processing, or commercial use. An orbital platform with return vehicles already positioned could help address that gap by separating the availability of return capacity from the timing of individual flights. Rather than treating each return as a standalone mission, the proposed system is intended to provide persistent logistics support. NASA funds commercial return NASA announced its 2026 SBIR Phase I selections on August 6. The Gravitics selection remains subject to contract negotiations through the NASA Shared Services Center. The NASA SBIR/STTR program is part of America’s Seed Fund, which provides early-stage, non-dilutive funding to small businesses developing technologies with potential commercial and government applications. Gravitics designs and manufactures large-volume, standardized orbital infrastructure and logistics systems. Its Orbital Carrier and Viper OTX programs are intended to provide pre-positioned and on-demand orbital transfer capabilities for defense, civil, and commercial operators. The company is also executing a STRATFI contract with the U.S. Space Force and developing commercial partnerships for cargo delivery to destinations in low Earth orbit. The NASA SBIR award will now give Gravitics six months to determine whether its Multiple-Downmass Hangar can provide a viable path toward more affordable and frequent return of materials from orbit.Recommended ArticlesGet the latest in engineering, tech, space & science - delivered daily to your inbox.With over a decade-long career in journalism, Neetika Walter has worked with The Economic Times, ANI, and Hindustan Times, covering politics, business, technology, and the clean energy sector. Passionate about contemporary culture, books, poetry, and storytelling, she brings depth and insight to her writing. When she isn’t chasing stories, she’s likely lost in a book or enjoying the company of her dogs.