Katalyst fires three xenon thrusters together in orbit

(SpaceEnergy) Katalyst Space has fired all three xenon-fuelled electric thrusters on its LINK servicing spacecraft simultaneously during in-orbit testing after NASA scaled back a planned Swift observatory boost mission.

NASA said Katalyst conducted a series of tests and manoeuvres this week to exercise LINK’s servicing capabilities and collect data for future spacecraft-servicing technology and operations.

Over several days, LINK raised its orbit and adjusted its trajectory to align with NASA’s Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory. The spacecraft also deployed all three robotic arms before simultaneously firing its three electric-propulsion thrusters.

NASA published an image captured by LINK on 30 August showing all three xenon-fuelled thrusters operating at once.

The original mission plan called for LINK to rendezvous with Swift and raise the observatory to a higher orbit. NASA and Katalyst subsequently scaled back that mission because of attitude-control issues affecting LINK, and the spacecraft will not make a close approach to Swift.

NASA said LINK came within about 12–15km of Swift and will make no closer approach during its remaining orbital operations. Katalyst estimates the servicing spacecraft will deorbit within a further two to three weeks.