Satellite Servicing Vehicle Otter Pup Mission Update
The Otter Pup satellite servicing vehicle suffered an anomaly shortly after launch aboard the SpaceX Transporter-8 mission earlier this month.
While the Launcher orbiter separated from the launch vehicle under nominal conditions, shortly after that separation the spacecraft experienced an anomaly which induced a high rotation rate that was far outside the bounds of normal operating parameters.
Within an hour of separation from Transporter-8, Launcher made first contact with Orbiter, at which point the onboard fuel and power levels were already critically low. A few minutes later, Launcher made the emergency decision to deploy Otter Pup. That quick action gave the satellite servicing vehicle an opportunity to continue its mission.
Satellite Servicing Vehicle Demonstration Mission Likely Impossible
Within three hours of launch, Starfish, with support from Astro Digital and ground station mission partners, received the first transmission from Otter Pup. This transmission indicated that Otter Pup was power positive, but that it was experiencing significant rotation induced from its emergency deployment from Orbiter.
About 25 hours after launch, Starfish confirmed the successful acknowledgement of a command to Otter Pup. For now, the satellite servicing vehicle is alive, but cannot move forward with its mission unless and until its excessive rate of rotation is eliminated. In addition, due to Orbiter SN3's high rotation rate, it will no longer be able to serve as a docking partner for the Otter Pup mission.
Over the next few months, Starfish says it will work diligently to stabilize Otter Pup and verify the health of its systems. Given the events experienced post-launch and the current state of the satellite, it is unlikely that Otter Pup will be able to continue with its mission. Still, the company intends to attempt to save Otter Pop, and is "grateful for the continued support of our mission partners."
Additional information will be shared by the company as it becomes available.
(Source: Starfish Space via Twitter. Images from file)