The Lunar Trailblazer spacecraft, launched in February via a Falcon 9 rocket, is currently out of contact and spinning, raising concerns over its operation. NASA's latest updates suggest that the 200-kg orbiter is in a low-power state. Its inability to conduct thruster firings has halted its trajectory towards the planned polar orbit around the Moon, where it aimed to explore lunar ice. Although there remains a slim chance of contact being reestablished, the future of the mission looks bleak, casting doubt on the broader SIMPLEx low-cost mission initiative by NASA.
The Lunar Trailblazer spacecraft is currently spinning and out of contact with engineers, prompting NASA to acknowledge a grim outlook for the mission.
Despite efforts to reestablish contact, the spacecraft's inability to complete crucial thruster firings questions the viability of its planned orbit around the Moon.
NASA's mission operations team indicated that if contact is reestablished, there might still be a chance to complete some objectives, albeit with a grim outlook.
The situation raises questions about the viability of NASA’s SIMPLEx program, aimed at developing low-cost planetary exploration missions.
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