NASA cancels satellite refueling plan after years of delay

In a major setback for the future of space operations, NASA has officially announced the end of its $2 billion Vision Satellite Refueling Project, or OSAM-1, amid criticism of the program’s prime contractor, Maxar, for poor performance.

NASA cancels $2 billion satellite refueling plan after years of delays. (Photo: NASA)

NASA's statement bluntly blamed mounting technical hurdles, spiraling costs, and ever-shifting project timelines for the project's demise. The announcement had a significant impact on NASA's Project Management Office's reputation.

According to CNBC , a spokesperson for the agency admitted that the 450 employees who were previously assigned to OSAM-1, now with the sudden stop, NASA's Project Management Board will support this workforce until the end of fiscal year 2024.

Not only that, Maxar Space Systems, the prime contractor for the project, also faced harsh criticism from NASA. NASA asserted that Maxar underestimated the scope of the OSAM-1 program, and lacked certain techniques to meet NASA's exact needs.

“ NASA and Maxar officials acknowledged that Maxar underestimated the scope and complexity of the work, lacked a full understanding of NASA’s technical requirements, and lacked the necessary expertise ,” NASA’s inspector general said in his report, following a year-long audit.

As of April 2022, the total cost of the OSAM-1 mission, once estimated to be between $626 million and $753 million, had risen to $2.05 billion and its launch was delayed to December 2026. NASA's Office of Inspector General (OIG) then concluded in an October 2023 report that the OSAM-1 project was likely to incur additional cost overruns, with an estimated cost of $2.17 billion at completion and a launch between March and June 2027.

Now, it can be seen, NASA's abrupt end to the OSAM-1 program raises questions about the private sector's readiness to handle these complex space initiatives.

HUYNH DUNG ((Source: Interestingengineering/Spacenews))

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