NASA’s Robotic Assistant for Orbital Telescope Lift Goes Awry in Tumultuous Malfunction
A robot from Katalyst Space, designed to attach to a space telescope and elevate it to a higher orbit, has encountered significant malfunctions, resulting in a loss of control, as reported by both NASA and the company.
The company is actively working to stabilize the spacecraft using backup systems, awaiting NASA’s decision on whether the mission will proceed successfully.
This marks the inaugural instance of NASA enlisting a private contractor to elevate one of its space telescopes, which would enable the observatory to extend its operational capabilities beyond its anticipated lifespan.
The Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory was launched in 2004, equipped to quickly respond to transient astronomical phenomena like gamma-ray bursts. Currently, due to orbital degradation, the spacecraft requires an upward push to continue its vital observations.
The LINK spacecraft was sent into orbit on July 3 aboard a Northrop Grumman Pegasus rocket. In recent weeks, flight controllers have been engaged in activating its systems to prepare for a rendezvous with the Swift telescope.
However, complications arose when the spacecraft began to spin uncontrollably over the weekend. NASA reported that this spin has caused “intermittent communications” with the satellite, likely due to its antenna being misaligned. Additionally, two out of the three reaction wheels, responsible for maintaining the spacecraft’s orientation, have malfunctioned, and there are issues with one of the thruster systems.
Flight controllers are attempting to regain control of the spacecraft by utilizing another set of thrusters to reduce its spin rate. They confirmed that they have commenced a series of corrective burns, which are yielding the desired effects. Katalyst assured that “this mission is still active, and we are moving ahead with preparations to rendezvous with Swift.”
Kieran Wilson, Katalyst’s principal investigator for the mission, mentioned prior to the launch that the spacecraft was developed with remarkable speed due to the urgent need to elevate Swift within a few months. “This undertaking is inherently challenging and fraught with risk,” he noted. “Many spacecraft with longer development timelines and greater funding have failed for simpler causes.”
In June, Katalyst secured $12 million in funding to support this mission, with investments from Fortitude Ventures and Geodesic Capital. The company has also received backing from the U.S. military, which is interested in a versatile vehicle capable of servicing satellites or monitoring other spacecraft.
This article has been updated to include Katalyst’s response.
