Development and Communication Issues
Progress up until now has been as anticipated for three of the 4 spacecraft– Pinky, Inky, and Clyde. A preliminary interaction problem with Blinky was addressed by updating price quotes of its orbital position and advising the satellite to much better align its antennas with ground station receivers. Operators have actually achieved functional two-way interactions with all Starling units and are still investigating the source of the concern.
Troubleshooting Blinkys Control System
In addition, information analysis of Blinkys onboard attitude control system, which manages the spacecrafts orientation, revealed that it was having to work to counteract a disruption. Initial troubleshooting suggested this was most likely connected to a propulsion system leakage, which was subsequently remediated. Operators are working to better understand the concern and how it may impact the objective.
Future Plans
After this last of commissioning, the Starling spacecraft will start a procedure called a “drift arrest maneuver.” This will include adjusting the orbital positions of each craft to bring them into proper positioning, preparing them to begin evaluating swarm activities.
Pac-Man
The names Blinky, Pinky, Inky, and Clyde are a reference to the ghosts in the traditional arcade game “Pac-Man,” which was very first released by Namco in 1980. In the game, these four characters are the opponents that try to capture Pac-Man as he browses through the maze, consuming dots and avoiding them. Each ghost has its own behavior, which affects how it goes after Pac-Man.
NASAs Starling mission will evaluate new innovations for self-governing swarm navigation on four CubeSats in low-Earth orbit. Credit: Blue Canyon Technologies/NASA
NASAs Starling CubeSats are progressing through the final stage of commissioning. While three are working as anticipated, one, named Blinky, dealt with interaction and propulsion problems, which were resolved. After commissioning, the spacecraft will line up for swarm activities testing.
Mission managers have established command interactions with all 4 of NASAs Starling CubeSats! The spacecraft are advancing through payload and propulsion tests, the last of a pre-operations list called commissioning.
The Starling spacecraft– which task employee nicknamed Blinky, Pinky, Inky, and Clyde– become part of an enthusiastic test to develop self-coordinating robotic swarms for area research study and exploration.
NASAs Starling CubeSats are progressing through the last phase of commissioning. After commissioning, the spacecraft will align for swarm activities testing.
Progress so far has actually been as anticipated for three of the 4 spacecraft– Pinky, Inky, and Clyde. An initial interaction concern with Blinky was dealt with by updating quotes of its orbital position and instructing the satellite to better align its antennas with ground station receivers.