What's Happening?
NASA is attempting to establish contact with the Athena EPIC satellite, which was launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on July 23. The satellite has not sent the expected beacon signal to track its orbit. Mission partners are collaborating at the NovaWurks data operations center to link with the satellite on each orbital pass. Teams are investigating signals to confirm Athena EPIC's location and operational status, while determining the cause of the missed signal acquisition.
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Why It's Important?
The Athena EPIC satellite is a pathfinder for scalable satellite design, supporting future missions through partnerships with the U.S. Space Force and NOAA. Establishing contact is crucial for assessing the satellite's capabilities and ensuring its success as a test launch. The mission highlights the importance of collaboration between government and industry partners in advancing satellite technology and supporting future space exploration.
What's Next?
NASA will continue efforts to establish contact with Athena EPIC, providing updates on the agency's Small Satellite Mission Blog. The mission partners will analyze received signals and investigate potential causes of communication delays. Successful contact will enable further testing and validation of the satellite's design and capabilities.
