Despite Setback, AstroForge Steams Ahead With Plans to Mine Space Asteroid

This week in space exploration has been marked by both groundbreaking achievements and significant setbacks. Let's dive into the key events involving AstroForge, SpaceX's Starship, Intuitive Machines, and Varda Space Industries.

AstroForge: The Odyssey of Odin

• Mission Overview: AstroForge, a California-based startup, launched its Odin spacecraft on February 26 aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. The mission aimed to scan a small asteroid for valuable metals, marking a pioneering effort in commercial deep space exploration.
• Challenges Encountered: Unfortunately, the mission hit a snag shortly after launch. Technical issues at AstroForge's primary ground station in Australia, including a broken power amplifier, delayed initial contact attempts. Despite multiple tries, communication with Odin was unsuccessful, leaving the spacecraft adrift in deep space.
• Future Plans: Despite this setback, AstroForge remains optimistic about its next mission, Vestri, scheduled for ...