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LINK Fixed in Orbit Ahead of Swift Rendezvous
Katalyst Space says LINK is halfway through commissioning after an in-flight software fix, clearing the way for its first approach to NASA’s Swift telescope.
Image: ITzine
Katalyst Space says its LINK servicing spacecraft has completed about half of its commissioning program and is preparing to approach NASA’s Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory. The mission is unusual for a science satellite: rather than repairing the telescope itself, LINK aims to raise Swift into a higher orbit to extend its operating life.
That plan nearly ran into trouble in the mission’s first days. LINK launched on July 3 and, after reaching orbit, deployed its solar arrays, established communications with Earth, and completed initial checks of its power, electronics, and propulsion systems. Katalyst also powered up its xenon electric thrusters for the first time, the engines needed for a slow rendezvous with Swift and the months-long orbit-raising campaign that would follow.
Early in flight, the team encountered communications glitches, attitude-control problems, and a fault in one of the spacecraft’s three reaction wheels, which handle precise pointing without using propellant. Engineers responded with an emergency on-orbit software update and changes to the control algorithms. According to the company, communications are now stable and the spacecraft’s orientation is under control.
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If the next tests go to plan, LINK will begin closing in on Swift. For NASA, the stakes are significant. The observatory launched in 2004, and its primary mission was originally expected to last about two years. Instead, Swift has operated for more than two decades and remains one of the key tools for studying gamma-ray bursts and other fast cosmic events.
Orbital servicing has picked up in recent years, but mostly around commercial satellites. Northrop Grumman has already docked its MEV vehicles with Intelsat telecom satellites, while Astroscale and others are testing inspection, refueling, and deorbiting services. LINK stands out because the target is a NASA science observatory. If the orbit-raising works, it could set an important precedent for extending the life of costly research spacecraft without launching a replacement that could cost hundreds of millions of dollars.
Frontier Editor
Dan is our resident futurist, covering electric mobility, space exploration, and the smart home. He's interested in atoms just as much as bits. Whether it's a new battery chemistry, a reusable rocket, or a protocol that finally makes IoT devices talk to each other, Dan breaks down the engineering that pushes humanity forward.
via ITzine
