California startup AstroForge’s private asteroid mission, Odin, has been deemed unsuccessful just weeks after its launch on February 26. The 265-pound probe was designed to fly by a small near-Earth asteroid, collect data, and pave the way for future missions.
AstroForge built Odin in under 10 months and spent $3.5 million on the project, a fraction of what government-funded space probes would cost. Despite initial difficulties establishing communications with the spacecraft, AstroForge had hoped to learn valuable insights into deep space communication and operation.
However, the company now believes that solar panel deployment complications may have led to Odin’s demise. If the panels didn’t fully extend and lock, the probe would operate with severely limited power, prioritizing essential systems over communication. AstroForge will attempt to re-establish contact with Odin from time to time but has shifted its focus to applying its hard-won insights to future missions.
Odin’s failure marks a setback for private asteroid exploration companies like AstroForge, which aims to mine asteroids for valuable resources such as platinum-group metals. The company is now looking ahead to its next mission, Vestri, scheduled to launch in late 2026 or early 2027, with the goal of landing on the same asteroid and extracting resources.
Source: https://www.space.com/space-exploration/private-spaceflight/hope-is-all-but-lost-for-private-asteroid-probe-in-deep-space-the-chance-of-talking-with-odin-is-minimal