NASA's Lunar Trailblazer spacecraft, launched on February 26 aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, is facing significant challenges just hours into its mission. The probe, designed to orbit the Moon and map water deposits in permanently shadowed regions, successfully powered up and transmitted data after deployment. However, roughly 12 hours after launch, mission operators lost contact with the spacecraft, raising concerns about its functionality and mission success.
An artist's depiction of Lunar Trailblazer at work in the moon’s orbit. Image credit: Lockheed Martin Space/Lunar Trailblazer
Lunar Trailblazer, a compact 440-pound (200-kilogram) spacecraft measuring 11.5 feet (3.5 meters) in length, was launched alongside Intuitive Machines' IM-2 lander as part of a rideshare mission. The spacecraft, built by Lockheed Martin, is equipped with two advanced scientific instruments designed to locate and analyze water ice on the Moon. These include the Lunar Thermal Mapper (LTM), which uses infrared technology to measure surface temperature and identify mineral compositions, and the High-resolution Volatiles and Minerals Moon Mapper (HVM3), developed by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, which detects the spectral signatures of water.
Despite a smooth launch and initial data transmission, mission controllers at Caltech and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory noticed power system irregularities shortly after deployment. The issues culminated in a loss of communication at approximately 7:30 a.m. EST on February 27. Hours later, engineers were able to restore contact, but the team is still working to reestablish telemetry and full command capabilities.
The Lunar Trailblazer mission is part of NASA’s broader efforts to prepare for sustainable human exploration of the Moon under the Artemis program. Identifying and mapping water deposits is a key objective, as lunar water could be used for life support and even converted into rocket fuel for deep-space missions.
Lunar Trailblazer is following a low-energy trajectory to the Moon, with planned trajectory correction maneuvers before a lunar flyby on March 3. A second flyby is scheduled for May 8, after which the spacecraft is expected to enter lunar orbit on July 7. If successful, it will operate in low lunar orbit for two years, gathering critical data on the presence and distribution of water.
History Of Lunar Mission Setbacks
Lunar Trailblazer is not the only spacecraft experiencing difficulties following the IM-2 mission launch. Odin, a spacecraft built by asteroid mining startup AstroForge, has also encountered communication issues. Odin was intended to fly past an asteroid, 2022 OB5, to analyze its composition and determine if it contains valuable metals.
AstroForge CEO Matt Gialich stated in a video update on February 28 that while the company is receiving a carrier signal from Odin, there is no telemetry data yet. This suggests the spacecraft is generating power, but the ground team lacks the necessary data to confirm its operational status. Engineers suspect a combination of network configuration issues, interference, and possible spacecraft tumbling could be preventing proper communication.
In contrast, the third rideshare spacecraft on the mission, Epic Aerospace’s Chimera orbital transfer vehicle, appears to be functioning normally, with the company confirming it was “healthy and power positive” after launch.
IM-2 Lander on Track for Lunar Arrival
Despite the struggles of its companion spacecraft, Intuitive Machines’ IM-2 lander remains in “excellent health,” according to a company statement on February 27. The lander, which aims to explore the lunar surface, will undergo several trajectory correction maneuvers before entering lunar orbit. It is expected to land on the Moon on March 6.
NASA engineers and mission operators continue working around the clock to diagnose and resolve the power and communication issues with Lunar Trailblazer. The coming days will be critical in determining whether the spacecraft can fulfill its mission to map lunar water—an endeavor that could shape the future of human space exploration.
Add comment
Comments