Katalyst Cuts Link Spin to 1.47 Degrees per Second, Delaying $30 Million Swift Reboost
Updated
Updated · SpaceNews · Aug 10
Katalyst Cuts Link Spin to 1.47 Degrees per Second, Delaying $30 Million Swift Reboost
3 articles · Updated · SpaceNews · Aug 10
Summary
Katalyst said Link’s body rate has been reduced to 1.47 degrees per second from about 9, stabilizing the spacecraft after a multi-axis spin disrupted commissioning weeks after its July 3 launch.
Less than 100 grams of fuel were used through one electric thruster, and the company plans a significant software update in coming days to restore attitude control in Link’s current configuration.
Two of Link’s three reaction wheels stopped functioning after the incident, while its reaction-control thrusters were only partially working, pushing the planned rendezvous with NASA’s Swift observatory into late August.
The delay still leaves some margin: Swift was just below 350 kilometers on Aug. 9, and the reboost must begin before the 22-year-old observatory falls to about 300 kilometers, expected no earlier than October.