Katalyst Space

Katalyst Space has been selected by the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) for its Deorbit-as-a-Service (DaaS) project in support of the Space Development Agency.  As increasingly large satellite constellations are fielded, operators will need reliable ways to manage spacecraft that were never designed or prepared for servicing or assisted deorbit.  Katalyst is addressing that need through NEXUS, a multi-mission robotic spacecraft that combines robotics, autonomous rendezvous and capture, propulsion, and spacecraft control. Deorbit is one service NEXUS can provide alongside inspection, maneuvering, life extension, anomaly response, and other on-orbit operations.  Katalysts’s vision is to move beyond one-off demonstrations toward repeatable operational services by building a fleet of robotic NEXUS spacecraft that can bring these capabilities to a growing number of missions.  We are proud to support this effort and help advance a more sustainable and serviceable space domain.  Read the full press release: https://lnkd.in/gc_QkS-u

The Katalyst team successfully uploaded a flight software update with new attitude controllers, which incorporates the remaining actuators in an updated control scheme. We expect the updated configuration to support rendezvous operations and in the next phase of the mission, attempt to capture and boost NASA’s Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory.  Katalyst is now focused on performing a series of burns and maneuvers to adjust LINK’s orbit relative to Swift over the coming days. Adapting to changing conditions is necessary due to the accelerated timeline for this mission. We are moving carefully and deliberately, assessing LINK’s performance at each phase. The team's work over the last several days has positioned LINK to continue its approach to Swift for the next phase of the mission. Stay tuned for more updates. 

The Katalyst team is continuing recovery operations and making steady progress toward returning LINK to its mission to rendezvous with and boost NASA’s Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory. LINK was spinning at approximately 9 degrees per second when recovery operations began. The team has since reduced the spacecraft’s body rate to 1.47 degrees per second, where it will remain while the team prepares for the next phase of the mission. The team used one of LINK's electric propulsion thrusters to slow the spacecraft down, consuming less than 100 grams of propellant to conserve fuel for the rendezvous and boost phase of the mission. Over the next few days, we will upload a significant flight software update that includes new attitude controllers for LINK’s current configuration. This will restore full attitude control and allow the team to begin the phasing maneuvers needed to align LINK’s orbit with Swift.  Stay tuned for more updates. 

Over the last 48 hours, the Katalyst team has worked to reduce LINK’s rotation while assessing current spacecraft functionality and its control system. A series of burns using a Hall effect thruster on a two-axis gimbal has reduced LINK’s spin rate from approximately 9 degrees per second to approximately 4 degrees per second. We believe the remaining rates will be reduced over the next series of burns.  In parallel, Katalyst is working closely with the NASA team to develop a new attitude controller for LINK’s current configuration. This work includes remapping the available actuators, retuning the control algorithms, and validating the updated controller in simulation before it’s activated on orbit. The recovery effort has delayed rendezvous, with LINK now expected to approach Swift around the end of August. We’re focused on stabilizing the spacecraft and restoring core system functionality while planning rendezvous with Swift, which we will begin executing once recovery is complete.  Follow along for more updates. 

𝗦𝘄𝗶𝗳𝘁 𝗠𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗨𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲: During commissioning, the Katalyst team encountered a series of technical issues related to attitude control of the spacecraft. Over the last 72 hours, the LINK spacecraft has been in a multi-axis spin, causing a temporary loss of communications and subsequent bus reset. Currently, two of three reaction wheels onboard LINK are disabled due to issues related to the upstream bus electrical power system, and the spacecraft has partial RCS functionality. LINK’s other major subsystems, electric propulsion, robotics, RPO sensing, and power are functioning properly, as well as S-band and L-band communications. Over the coming days, Katalyst will work to reduce the body rates using the gimbaled electric propulsion thrusters and stabilize the spacecraft. We have already begun this series of burns and are seeing the intended effect. We anticipate the following steps over the next few weeks: • Update the guidance, navigation, and control schemes to reflect the current spacecraft configuration • Verify and validate the updated control schemes and FSW with end-to-end simulation and ground testing to thoroughly understand the interactions between subsystems with the updated configuration  • Maneuver to co-elliptical with Swift using the updated control schemes • Perform inspection of Swift and other RPO activities • Attempt a capture of Swift, pending spacecraft state of health and safety While these technical issues require a revised approach, our team is working around the clock alongside our NASA partners. The mission remains active and we continue to believe that with these changes, LINK has a viable path to rendezvous with Swift.  We will provide additional updates on the situation as more information becomes available.

𝗦𝘄𝗶𝗳𝘁 𝗠𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗨𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲: Since launch, Mission Operations has been working hard to commission LINK, bringing new systems online, validating spacecraft performance, and tuning the spacecraft ahead of rendezvous with NASA’s Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory. As part of that process, LINK has been gradually increasing the duration of its thruster burns to prepare for the longer, multi-hour burns it will execute in the rendezvous phase.  More updates to come.  

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman was on Face of the Nation recently discussing Katalyst's mission to boost NASA's Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory before it deorbits later this year. When solar weather or other threats put a scientific asset like Swift at risk, there haven’t been options beyond expensive replacements or costly human servicing missions. We designed, built, tested, and launched LINK in less than a year, for a potential 16:1 return. That means operators can now respond to emerging needs when they happen, not years or hundreds of millions of dollars later.  Isaacman said, "... this gives us options for Hubble and other scientific instruments… if you could launch something for $30 million to go up and enhance it, you know, give it a new lease on life, that's money worth spent.” LINK is on orbit preparing for rendezvous operations with Swift. Stay tuned for updates. Watch the full interview:  https://lnkd.in/gS-h_m5m (Image credit: CBS)

𝗦𝘄𝗶𝗳𝘁 𝗠𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗨𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲: LINK completed its first 10 days on orbit. The team is working around the clock to complete spacecraft commissioning, with key systems, including communications, propulsion, and power, coming online. We're about halfway through. There's more work ahead. Once commissioning is complete, LINK will be underway to rendezvous with NASA's Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory. Check out pictures from LINK on orbit below: solar arrays deployed and thruster testing underway.

𝗦𝘄𝗶𝗳𝘁 𝗠𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗨𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲:   LINK is settling into life on orbit as the Katalyst team continues spacecraft commissioning ahead of its mission to boost NASA's Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory.   Since launch, we have: • Deployed LINK’s solar arrays, so the spacecraft can generate and store its own power • Established routine communications, receiving telemetry from LINK and sending commands back to the spacecraft • Began checkout of LINK's propulsion system. This includes the Hall effect thrusters that will take the spacecraft to Swift and perform the orbital boost, and the reaction control system (RCS) thrusters which will provide the precise maneuvering needed to safely capture Swift Over the next few weeks, the team will continue verifying spacecraft performance, completing system checkouts, and preparing LINK for rendezvous with Swift. This time was built into the mission plan to evaluate the spacecraft's performance in orbit and make any adjustments needed before the next phase of the mission.   We’ll continue posting updates as commissioning progresses.

As America celebrates 250 years, we're grateful to be building on the legacy of bold Americans who chose to tackle difficult problems and do things others thought couldn't be done.   Happy Fourth of July from all of us at Katalyst Space.