A privately built spacecraft, Odyn, is drifting aimlessly in deep space after its signal was lost due to a power amplifier issue that delayed contact attempts. Launched on February 26 by California-based startup AstroForge, the probe was intended to scan a small asteroid for valuable metals. However, technical issues and poor communication with the ground station hindered the mission.
AstroForge founder Matt Gialich expressed concerns about the fading hope of re-establishing contact with Odyn. The company had initially struggled with communication during its first mission but opted to build the $3.5 million spacecraft in-house for its second attempt, aiming to reduce costs.
Despite efforts to locate and communicate with Odyn using more sensitive equipment and collaborating with observatories and amateur astronomers, the signal remains lost. AstroForge plans to launch its third mission, Vestri, scheduled for late 2025, which will also be developed in-house and dock with a near-Earth asteroid.
Source: https://gizmodo.com/asteroid-mining-startup-loses-its-spacecraft-somewhere-beyond-the-moon-2000572644