NASA's Katalyst Space Robot for Telescope Lift Faces Control Issues in Orbit
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- TechCrunch
NASA's Katalyst Space robot, designed to elevate the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory to a higher orbit, is currently tumbling out of control. This mission marks NASA's first collaboration with a private company for such an operation, aimed at extending the observatory's operational lifespan beyond its initial expectations.
The Swift Observatory, launched in 2004, is crucial for observing transient cosmic events. However, the LINK spacecraft, which was launched on July 3 aboard a Northrop Grumman Pegasus rocket, has encountered significant control issues, including the failure of two of its three reaction wheels. This has complicated communication efforts as the spacecraft spins away from Earth.
Flight controllers are actively working to stabilize the LINK spacecraft using alternative thrusters, and initial efforts have shown positive results. As Katalyst's mission progresses, the focus will be on recovering the spacecraft to ensure the Swift Observatory can continue its vital work in astrophysics. No further timeline was disclosed at the time of publication.
Original report
The robot NASA hired to lift a orbital telescope is tumbling out of control
TechCrunch · Tim FernholzThis briefing is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting and is provided for industry information and news discovery. The original report and source publication are credited and linked where applicable. RobotToday does not claim ownership of third-party source material.
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