Efforts were being made to reconnect with a retired NASA spacecraft. But due to the hiccups it has been witnessing, it seems to be very difficult that goal would be achieved.

The satellite launched in 1978 has been roaming in space for around three decades. In the beginning of this year, a campaign was launched by former astronauts and engineers of NASA to get in touch with the vintage NASA spacecraft.

NASA gave permission to establish the connection as the spacecraft approaches earth. Main aim was to put the spacecraft in a new direction, so that it could be given command to go to a new orbit and join other satellites in monitoring space weather.

Keith Cowing, a former NASA member and one of the leaders of the volunteer group of the ISEE-3 Reboot Project, said their first series of burn went well. But they faced problem in the second set and when they again tried, nothing happened.

As per experts, it is quite possible that nitrogen tanks of the spacecraft needed to force the fuel are either not working or are empty. Cowing was of the view that in essence, they can say that they cannot fire the engine anymore.

If there would be no more fuel, they would not be able to get more fuel in those lines, stated Cowing. This would make researchers unable to achieve their goal and do a useful science. Cowing affirmed that the current situation is quite confusing for them.

"We may take one last run at the spacecraft but this may be it for an attempt to bring it back to Earth", stated Cowing.