Its robotics team will craft an in-space servicing, assembly, and manufacturing gravity offload platform intended for those who build and operate satellites and spacecraft.

Following a competitive selection process, The Satellite Applications Catapult (SAC) has granted Amentum the contract, with the system scheduled for completion by March 2025.

"We will use our strengths in robotics and technology to create a new facility that will help our client advance its vision to create a robust and interconnected UK Space Ecosystem fostering innovation, growth, collaboration and technological advancement," commented Andy White, Senior Vice President of Amentum Energy and Environment International.

This gravity offload setup employs a gantry mechanism that significantly lowers gravitational influence on suspended payloads, mirroring in-orbit conditions. Engineers will rely on the system to refine guidance controls and hardware needed for docking and capture, ensuring seamless performance in orbit while decreasing mission failure risks.

Amentum plans to integrate commercial off-the-shelf components into an inventive layout, providing a comprehensive and resilient solution. The firm will design, qualify, and deploy the final system at the client's facility, employing cost-effective modular concepts and agile methods to streamline delivery.

This equipment marks a significant addition to the Satellite Applications Catapult infrastructure at the Westcott Space Cluster in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire. The updated facility allows companies to test, evaluate, and display various in-orbit functions such as manufacturing, servicing, inspection, repair, and assembly. The UK Space Agency supplied the funding for this upgrade.

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