NASA ends $2 billion satellite project

Quick look

• NASA ends $2 billion OSAM-1 project amid setbacks and delays.
• The project aimed to extend the lifespan of satellites by using a robotic arm to refuel.
• Changes in the industry and lack of committed partners contribute to the end of the project.
• Maxar Technologies faces criticism for delays and cost increases.
• NASA seeks to mitigate impacts on Goddard Space Flight Center personnel.

Launched with high hopes in 2015, NASA's Orbit Maintenance, Assembly and Manufacturing 1 (OSAM-1) project aimed to revolutionize space technology. Its objective was to refuel obsolete satellites, thus extending their operational life. This innovative project promised to save costs and reduce space debris by keeping satellites in use for longer periods. However, despite its potential, NASA announced Friday that it was suspending the effort. An independent review highlighted “ongoing technical, cost and schedule challenges,” which led to the project’s unfortunate demise.

SPIDER's jump: redefining space technology

The OSAM-1 project represented a bold step into the future. At the center of this mission was the Space Infrastructure Dexterous Robot (SPIDER), designed to perform engineering feats. SPIDER was tasked with opening fuel hatches and unscrewing fuel caps in the vacuum of space, representing a significant advance in robotic technology. Its primary mission was to refuel the Landsat 7 satellite, a task that was never planned when the satellite was launched in 1999. However, as the space industry evolved toward satellites designed to refuel, the need for such a project rate began to decline. Coupled with the lack of a committed partnership, the relevance of the project faced significant challenges.

The increase in the cost of OSAM-1 to 2.05 billion dollars: delays and doubts

Financial and contractor problems further complicated the OSAM-1 project. Initially estimated at $753 million, the project's cost rose to $2.05 billion in 2022. Maxar Technologies, responsible for delivering the spacecraft and robotic arm, faced criticism for delays and rising costs. The contractor's “poor performance” strained its relationship with NASA and caused considerable setbacks for the project. With the spacecraft delivered two years late and continuing delays for SPIDER, the mission's viability began to decline. Maxar's admission of no longer benefiting from the contracted work pointed to deep-seated problems in the project's execution.

In response to these challenges, NASA has shifted its focus toward mitigating the impact of the OSAM-1 cancellation on its dedicated staff at the Goddard Space Flight Center. The completion of this ambitious project marks a poignant moment in space exploration, reflecting the complexities and changing needs of the industry. Although the dream of refueling satellites in orbit remains unfulfilled, the lessons learned from the OSAM-1 mission will undoubtedly shape future efforts to expand human capabilities in space.