The Cislunar Autonomous Positioning System Technology Operations and Navigation Experiment, or CAPSTONE, is a CubeSat that will fly an unique orbit around the Moon intended for NASAs future Artemis lunar outpost Gateway. Its six-month objective will help launch a brand-new period of deep space expedition. Credit: NASA Ames Research Center
NASAs Cislunar Autonomous Positioning System Technology Operations and Navigation Experiment (CAPSTONE) effectively finished its third trajectory correction maneuver (TCM) on Monday, July 25. CAPSTONE is taking a long but fuel-efficient path to the Moon, flying about 958,000 miles (1.54 million kilometers) from Earth prior to looping back around to its near rectilinear halo orbit (NRHO).
CAPSTONE launched on June 28, followed by successful deployment and the start of spacecraft commissioning on July 4. It successfully completed its first trajectory correction maneuver on July 7 and its 2nd on July 12.
CAPSTONE will fly in an unique, halo-shaped orbit around the Moon before the orbit is utilized by Gateway, NASAs future lunar outpost for our Artemis program. The CubeSat will come within 1,000 miles of one lunar pole on its near pass and 43,500 miles from the other pole at its peak every seven days, needing less propulsion ability for spacecraft flying to and from the Moons surface area than other circular orbits. Its a six-month objective that will assist launch a brand-new period of exploration. Credit: NASAs Ames Research
By NASA
July 29, 2022
At the completion of the third trajectory correction maneuver, CAPSTONE had to do with 780,000 miles (1.25 million kilometers) from Earth and was moving at about 595 miles per hour (about 267 meters per second). It will carry out several such maneuvers throughout its journey to lunar orbit to refine its trajectory to the Moon.
CAPSTONE remains on track to get here to its lunar orbit on November 13, 2022.
The Cislunar Autonomous Positioning System Technology Operations and Navigation Experiment, or CAPSTONE, is a CubeSat that will fly a distinct orbit around the Moon meant for NASAs future Artemis lunar station Gateway. Credit: NASA Ames Research
CAPSTONE will fly in a special, halo-shaped orbit around the Moon before the orbit is used by Gateway, NASAs future lunar station for our Artemis program.