The Cislunar Autonomous Positioning System Technology Operations and Navigation Experiment, or CAPSTONE, mission introduced at 5:55 a.m. EDT Tuesday, June 28, 2022, on Rocket Labs Electron rocket from the Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 on the Mahia Peninsula of New Zealand. Credit: Courtesy of Rocket Lab
A cubesat the size of microwave oven released to area on June 28 from New Zealand by industrial business Rocket Lab and their Electron rocket. The little satellite will conduct tests to guarantee the uncommon lunar orbit proposed for NASAs future Lunar Gateway is in fact steady.
CAPSTONE, the Cislunar Autonomous Positioning System Technology Operations and Navigation Experiment, launched aboard an Electron rocket at 5:55 a.m. EDT (2:55 a.m. PDT/ 09:55 UTC) on Tuesday, June 28, 2022, from the Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 on the Mahia Peninsula of New Zealand. The Electron, a two-stage, a partly recoverable orbital launch automobile, has now flown 27 times with 24 successes and 3 failures.
Illustration of Gateway in lunar orbit. Built with international and business partners, the Gateway is important to sustainable lunar expedition and will act as a design for future missions to Mars. Credit: NASA
The Gateway is a lunar spaceport station that will support NASAs Artemis program to go back to the Moon and make it possible for future missions to Mars. The distinct orbit, called a near rectilinear halo orbit (NRHO), is an elongated polar orbit that brings a spacecraft within 1,600 km (1,000 miles) of one lunar pole on its near pass and 70,000 km (43,500 miles) from the other pole every 7 days. Due to the fact that the orbit uses a balance point in the gravities of the Earth and the Moon, it is thought that spacecraft flying from this type of orbit will require less propulsion capability for taking a trip to and from the Moons surface than other circular orbits and needs very little energy to maintain.
CAPSTONEs main objective is to try to establish that this place in area provides a ideal and steady area for a space station, along with a staging location for missions to the Moon and beyond.
CAPSTONE, the Cislunar Autonomous Positioning System Technology Operations and Navigation Experiment, introducing aboard Rocket Labs Electron rocket from the Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 on the Mahia Peninsula of New Zealand Tuesday, June 28, 2022. Credit: Rocket Lab
The spacecraft is currently in low Earth orbit, and is attached to Rocket Labs Lunar Photon, an interplanetary 3rd stage that will send out CAPSTONE on its way to deep area. It will take about 4 months for it to reach the targeted lunar orbit.
Soon after launch, Lunar Photon separated from Electrons 2nd stage. Over the next 6 days, Photons engine will spark at specific times to accelerate it beyond low-Earth orbit, where Photon will launch the CubeSat on a ballistic lunar transfer trajectory to the Moon. CAPSTONE will then use its own propulsion and the Suns gravity to navigate the remainder of the way to the Moon. NASA states the gravity-driven track will significantly reduce the amount of fuel the CubeSat needs to get to the Moon.
CAPSTONE in orbit near the Moon: After release from Rocket Labs Photon satellite bus, CAPSTONE will utilize its propulsion system to travel for approximately 3 months before participating in orbit around the Moon. Credit: Illustration by NASA/Daniel Rutter
CAPSTONEs task is to confirm the power and propulsion requirements for preserving its orbit as anticipated by NASAs designs. Throughout its numerous orbits, the CAPSTONE will demonstrate the dependability of an ingenious spacecraft-to-spacecraft navigation system, using the reliable and long-lived Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter– which has actually remained in orbit of the Moon considering that 2009– as an example and point of referral, without using ground stations. CAPSTONE will determine the distance between the two lunar orbiting spacecraft, and NASA says this innovation might permit future spacecraft to identify their position in area without relying solely on tracking from Earth.
” CAPSTONE is an example of how working with business partners is key for NASAs ambitious plans to explore the Moon and beyond,” said Jim Reuter, associate administrator for the Space Technology Mission Directorate, in a NASA press release. “Were thrilled with a successful start to the mission and eagerly anticipating what CAPSTONE will do once it comes to the Moon.”
The special orbit, called a near rectilinear halo orbit (NRHO), is an elongated polar orbit that brings a spacecraft within 1,600 km (1,000 miles) of one lunar pole on its near pass and 70,000 km (43,500 miles) from the other pole every 7 days. Due to the fact that the orbit uses a balance point in the gravities of the Earth and the Moon, it is theorized that spacecraft flying from this type of orbit will need less propulsion capability for taking a trip to and from the Moons surface than other circular orbits and requires very little energy to maintain.
You can follow the spacecrafts journey live using NASAs Eyes on the Solar System interactive real-time 3D data visualization. Beginning approximately July 5, 2022 NASA will also offer a virtual flight along with the CubeSat in a visualization on NASAs Ames Research Centers home page along with providing updates on Twitter and Facebook.
” CAPSTONE is a pathfinder in numerous ways, and it will show several technology capabilities throughout its mission timeframe while navigating a never-before-flown orbit around the Moon,” stated Elwood Agasid, project manager for CAPSTONE at NASAs Ames Research Center in Californias Silicon Valley. “CAPSTONE is laying a foundation for Artemis, Gateway, and commercial support for future lunar operations.”
Initially released on Universe Today.
During its lots of orbits, the CAPSTONE will demonstrate the reliability of an ingenious spacecraft-to-spacecraft navigation system, using the long-lived and trustworthy Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter– which has been in orbit of the Moon because 2009– as a touchstone and point of reference, without the usage of ground stations. CAPSTONE will identify the distance between the two lunar orbiting spacecraft, and NASA states this technology could allow future spacecraft to identify their position in area without relying solely on tracking from Earth.
The spacecraft will check out a distinct lunar elliptical orbit, the exact same orbit prepared for @NASA_Gateway– a multipurpose outpost for long-lasting lunar objectives as part of the @NASAArtemis program.
Congrats to the #CAPSTONE group for a successful launch today! The spacecraft will explore a distinct lunar elliptical orbit, the same orbit planned for @NASA_Gateway– a multipurpose outpost for long-lasting lunar missions as part of the @NASAArtemis program. pic.twitter.com/FRFcfy38WQ
— Thomas Zurbuchen (@Dr_ThomasZ) June 28, 2022
