SMRTR Science & EngineeringAug 10, 2026Interesting Engineering

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

SMRTR summary

NASA selected Seattle-based Gravitics for a 2026 Small Business Innovation Research award to develop an orbital hangar that could make returning materials from space cheaper and more routine. The proposed Multiple-Downmass Hangar would hold several return vehicles on a single orbital platform, letting companies send materials back to Earth on flexible schedules rather than waiting for dedicated return flights. The six-month project will assess technical feasibility.

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