NASA is diligently working to re-establish communication with the Lunar Trailblazer spacecraft, which experienced power system issues shortly after its February 26 launch. The small satellite, designed to study lunar water, lost contact with ground control a day after deploying from a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.
The mission team suspects Lunar Trailblazer is in a low-power state, slowly spinning with limited sunlight reaching its solar panels. They are continuously monitoring for signals, hoping the spacecraft’s orientation will shift to allow more sunlight to reach the panels, boosting power and enabling communication.
Teams at NASA’s Deep Space Network are persistently sending commands to the spacecraft. Ground-based radio stations are also assisting by listening for any returning signal. Meanwhile, engineers are meticulously analyzing the initial data collected to determine the spacecraft’s precise orientation and rotation. They are using testbeds to simulate Lunar Trailblazer’s behavior during boot-up and explore recovery strategies from the low-power condition.
Lunar Trailblazer is part of NASA’s Small Innovative Missions for Planetary Exploration (SIMPLEx) program. This program focuses on low-cost science missions that share rides with other launches. SIMPLEx missions accept higher risk in exchange for lower costs and less stringent oversight. While the program aims for a $55 million cost cap, Lunar Trailblazer’s total cost reportedly reached $94 million.
Despite the challenges, NASA remains committed to recovering the spacecraft. “NASA undertakes high-risk, high-reward missions like Lunar Trailblazer to achieve groundbreaking science at a lower cost,” stated Nicky Fox, associate administrator of NASA’s Science Mission Directorate. “The team embodies NASA’s innovative spirit, and if anyone can bring Lunar Trailblazer back, it’s them.”
