Katalyst’s Link gets to within 7.5 miles of Gehrels-Swift
Link firing all three of its xenon thrusters.
In order to demonstrate its spacecraft’s capabilities, the satellite repair startup Katalyst has successfully maneuvered its Link robot to within 7.5 miles of the Gehrels-Swift Observatory, though it will make no attempt to get closer or rescue the space telescope.
NASA and Katalyst scaled back a mission that would have used LINK to boost the agency’s Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory to a higher altitude, because of attitude control issues with LINK. However, Katalyst continues to demonstrate as many of LINK’s capabilities in space as possible, to collect data to inform future spacecraft servicing technology and operations.
Over the past few days, Katalyst raised LINK’s orbit and made adjustments to align with Swift’s orbit. The team also deployed all three of LINK’s robotic arms and fired all three of the electric propulsion thrusters at the same time. LINK came within 7.5 to 9 miles (12 to 15 kilometers) of Swift. LINK will not make any closer approach to Swift throughout its remaining operations in orbit. The Katalyst team estimates LINK will deorbit after another 2 to 3 weeks.
The orbit of Gehrels-Swift meanwhile is expected to decay sometime in the next few months. Until that happens however its science team has resumed science operations.
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This is one of those situations where, the spacecraft is doomed, why not try it? The worst case scenario is you end up with a debris cloud in a rapidly decaying orbit. Best case is a few more years of observations.
Is it a risk, yes. But that risk seems acceptable. The alternative is the spacecraft dies. If the mission fails, it dies. If there is a problem during boost, it dies.
Push the limits.
It’s not even a few more years. At this point they are looking at months.
My understanding is that in regaining control of the LINK spacecraft, too much propellant was consumed and there is not enough remaining to do any significant boost of the Swift Observatory spacecraft. This is an unfortunate situation, but it is the Katalyst company’s first mission, and these tend to have unexpected bugs to work out. This was a particularly disappointing bug.
Whether they can do a significant boost or not, there is value in doing everything else, not unlike SpaceX putting Ship 41 in the Gulf off Boca Chica after orbiting next week. Obvious question is how much propellant is left? Cheers –