Private mission to rescue NASA’s aging telescope runs into its own trouble
Two of LINK’s three reaction wheels have failed, and flight controllers are using thrusters to stop the spin before it can reach Swift.
- On Tuesday, Katalyst Space Technologies reported that its LINK spacecraft is spinning uncontrollably in orbit, disrupting communication and threatening the rescue mission for NASA's Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory.
- Launched in 2004, the 21-year-old Swift is descending faster than expected due to atmospheric drag caused by recent solar activity, necessitating the urgent orbit-raising mission.
- Preliminary investigations reveal two of LINK's three reaction wheels are non-operational, while the spacecraft also faces functionality loss within its cold gas thruster system.
- Flight controllers are firing electric propulsion thrusters to halt the rotation. "Mission remains active," Katalyst said, adding that "Link has a viable path to rendezvous with Swift."
- Without intervention, the telescope will crash to Earth this fall, jeopardizing observations of gamma ray bursts and exploded stars. NASA paid $30 million for the rescue effort.
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39 Articles
NASA launched this spacecraft to save a satellite. Now, it needs saving too
Things aren't going so well for NASA's latest satellite rescue mission.NASA launched the Swift Boost mission on July 3, sending a specialized spacecraft to low Earth orbit on the final flight of Northrop Grumman's air-launched Pegasus XL rocket. The spacecraft is called LINK and was built by Arizona-based Katalyst Space Technologies. LINK was sent to orbit to try and link up with NASA's Swift observatory, a highly successful scientific satellite…
Swift Reboost Mission Encounters Setback
Katalyst Space’s efforts to reboost NASA’s Swift observatory has encountered a setback. The LINK on-orbit servicing spacecraft is in a multi-axis spin. LINK must attach itself to Swift and raise the orbit to avoid reentering later this year. Other systems are working properly and Katalyst remains hopeful they can regain control of LINK and complete the mission. Katalyst said yesterday LINK had been in a multi-axis spin for 72 hours, with “two of…
NASA’s Swift telescope could crash to Earth as $30 million rescue spacecraft spins out of control
A mission to save NASA's Swift telescope is encountering difficulties. The Link satellite, sent for rescue, has developed thruster problems and is spinning. This malfunction disrupts communications and threatens the urgent $30 million NASA mission. Engineers are working to stabilize Link and restore its ability to reach Swift. The mission's success is crucial to prevent Swift's re-entry this fall.
The failure of two of its three reaction wheels forces LINK to stabilize before deciding whether to approach the observatory and raise its orbit
Swift reboost mission encounters attitude control problems
A spacecraft launched nearly a month ago in a high-risk bid to boost the orbit of a NASA astrophysics satellite is suffering attitude control problems that could jeopardize its mission. The post Swift reboost mission encounters attitude control problems appeared first on SpaceNews.
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