AstroForge has identified asteroid 2022 OB5, a near-Earth asteroid measuring up to 100 meters in diameter with potentially metallic composition, as the target for its upcoming Odin mission. The journey to this celestial body will take approximately 300 days, with a particularly advantageous characteristic – the asteroid will pass within approximately 600,000 km of Earth in January 2026.
AstroForge’s journey hasn’t been without obstacles. Their first mission, Brokkr-1, launched in April 2023, encountered difficulties due to third-party components.
Demonstrating technical agility, AstroForge accelerated the development of an internally designed spacecraft originally planned for their third mission. This new 100-kg Odin vehicle, manufactured and tested in record time, is now ready for launch at the end of this month aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Florida.
Looking toward future operations, AstroForge has secured launch contracts with Stoke Space for their upcoming missions on the in-development Nova rocket.
AstroForge recently achieved an important regulatory milestone, becoming the first company to receive a deep space spectrum license from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on October 18th, 2024. Given NASA’s Deep Space Network’s current resource constraints, AstroForge will utilize commercially available satellite dishes globally to maintain contact with Odin.
The company’s third mission, Vestri, represents an even more ambitious step forward. This larger spacecraft is designed to dock with its target asteroid using magnets, capitalizing on the asteroid’s iron-rich composition. If successful, this would mark the first private spacecraft to attempt such a maneuver beyond lunar orbit.
AstroForge‘s journey exemplifies the methodical persistence required in the New Space industry. While the history of space mining ventures has seen several promising startups ultimately close their doors, AstroForge’s ability to secure substantial funding while navigating technical challenges and regulatory frameworks demonstrates continued interest in the sector. Even if asteroid mining proves more challenging than anticipated, AstroForge’s first-ever commercial deep space communications license, and their approach to resource characterization are creating a regulatory and technical foundation that future commercial space resource ventures can build upon. As they prepare for their upcoming launch, AstroForge’s mission two represents another step in the complex journey toward accessing and utilizing space resources.
AstroForge Selects Asteroid Target for First Private Deep Space Prospecting Mission
