AstroForge’s Odin spacecraft, launched on February 26, 2024, aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, has been lost in deep space. The spacecraft, intended to scan a small asteroid for valuable metals as part of AstroForge’s asteroid mining ambitions, experienced communication failures shortly after deployment, leaving it tumbling aimlessly approximately 270,000 miles (434,522 kilometers) from Earth.
The California-based startup had high hopes for Odin, aiming to be the first company to launch a commercial deep-space mission using an in-house built spacecraft. However, a series of unfortunate events derailed the mission. Following separation from the Falcon 9, AstroForge’s primary ground station in Australia encountered significant technical difficulties due to a faulty power amplifier. This delayed the initial contact attempt and set off a chain reaction of communication failures.
This marks the second setback for AstroForge. Their first mission in April 2023, designed to test asteroid material refinement in orbit, also faced communication challenges. For Odin, AstroForge decided to build the spacecraft in-house to mitigate previous issues encountered, completing the $3.5 million project in under ten months.
Despite continuous efforts, spanning over 18 hours a day, AstroForge was unable to re-establish contact with Odin. The team employed more sensitive spectrum recorders and sought assistance from additional ground stations, but their efforts proved futile. Even attempts to track Odin through observatories and amateur astronomers were unsuccessful due to the spacecraft’s faint visibility.
While the loss of Odin is a significant blow, AstroForge remains committed to their asteroid mining vision. The company is already focused on its third mission, Vestri, scheduled for launch in late 2025. Vestri, also being developed in-house, will journey to a near-Earth asteroid and attempt to dock with it. This mission will hitch a ride with Intuitive Machines’ third lunar mission.
Despite the setbacks, AstroForge’s ambition remains undeterred. The company emphasizes their rapid spacecraft development capabilities and willingness to take risks in this new frontier of space exploration and resource utilization.
