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NASA’s Lunar Trailblazer, AstroForge’s Odin face post-deployment challenges
- NASA's Lunar Trailblazer and AstroForge's Odin, launched as rideshare payloads on Intuitive Machines' IM-2 mission, are facing post-deployment challenges related to communication issues.
- Odin, a spacecraft from AstroForge intended for an asteroid flyby, encountered troubles after deployment, with intermittent communication being reported.
- AstroForge's mission control center provided updates on Odin's status, indicating intermittent communication and potential issues with the spacecraft's positioning.
- AstroForge's CEO mentioned ground issues affecting contact with Odin post-deployment, highlighting challenges with ground stations and communication equipment.
- The team attempted commands to resolve issues with Odin's power amplifier and communications equipment as part of troubleshooting efforts.
- AstroForge's mission involves a flyby of the asteroid '2022 OB5' to study metal-rich content, with a focus on potential future mining prospects.
- NASA's Lunar Trailblazer, managed by JPL, also faced communication problems post-deployment, with intermittent power system issues observed.
- Mission operators at Caltech's IPAC initially established communications with Lunar Trailblazer before facing further challenges and subsequent loss of communication.
- Lunar Trailblazer, part of NASA's SIMPLEx program, aims to map water on the Moon's surface and was originally scheduled for a later launch but rescheduled for IM-2 mission.
- The small and cost-effective Lunar Trailblazer spacecraft, manufactured by Lockheed Martin, encountered challenges with its power system shortly after deployment.
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