An unprecedented NASA mission to extend the lifespan of the Swift space telescope is facing serious obstacles after the spacecraft responsible for the rescue lost control of its orientation. The LINK vehicle, from Katalyst Space, began to spin uncontrollably in orbit after a series of technical failures, putting the entire objective of the observatory's salvage operation at risk.
The incident occurred during the vehicle's testing and commissioning phase, which was launched on July 3 aboard a Pegasus rocket. According to NASA, the uncontrolled rotation of the spacecraft caused sporadic communications, possibly due to the misalignment of the antenna relative to Earth during the spinning motion.
Preliminary investigations indicate that two of the three reaction wheels, essential components for attitude control, stopped working. In addition, one of the propulsion systems also presented technical problems, worsening the space robot's situation.
To curb the movement and stabilize the vehicle, Katalyst Space engineers are using a set of backup thrusters. The company reported that the alternative maneuvers are already showing the expected effects to reduce rotation and regain control of the mission.
The core objective of the mission is to dock the spacecraft to the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory to raise it to a higher orbit. The telescope, launched in 2004, has been gradually losing altitude due to friction with the Earth's atmosphere, which threatens its ability to detect astronomical phenomena such as gamma-ray bursts.
This is the first time NASA has used a private company to perform the orbit-raising service for a telescope. The mission is considered high-risk and was developed on an accelerated schedule to meet the urgency of keeping the observatory functioning beyond its planned lifespan.
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