Citizen Scientists Revived NASA’s Long-Retired ISEE-3 Spacecraft

William Faulkner 2 months ago 4 min read A citizen-led team successfully re-established control of NASA’s long-retired ISEE-3 spacecraft, firing its thrusters for the first time in 27 years and restoring its spin. However, a larger maneuver intended to redirect the probe toward an Earth-Sun observation point failed after the spacecraft apparently lost the nitrogen needed to pressurize its propulsion system. The effort demonstrated that a spacecraft built in the 1970s could still respond to commands decades later—and that modern software and radio technology could replace much of the specialized ground equipment that disappeared after the original mission ended. Independent Team Rebuilt the Ability to Command ISEE-3 When ISEE-3 approached Earth after decades in space, NASA had long since ended operational support for the spacecraft. The specialized equipment originally used to communicate with the probe had been discarded, and there was no funded NASA mission prepared to take control.

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