Vanessa Clark

Post-pitch story

Vanessa Clark and William Kowalski pitched Atomos Space with one of the boldest ideas the show has heard: space tugs, orbital transfer vehicles that move satellites into position once they're in orbit. It sounded like science fiction, but the company kept building. In 2020 Atomos took part in a government study that helped shape the national strategy for space nuclear power and propulsion. In 2024 it flew a mission in low Earth orbit to test key parts of its spacecraft. Then in April 2025, Katalyst Space Technologies acquired Atomos to grow its in-space servicing business, and kept the company's Colorado facility running. Kowalski stayed on as COO under Katalyst. Clark left the combined company in December 2025, after more than seven years building Atomos, and joined Loft Orbital as a vice president. From a pitch about tow trucks for satellites to an acquisition by a space-servicing company, this is one of the season's most remarkable post-pitch stories.