The CAPSTONE mission is planned for launch no earlier than May 2022. Rocket Labs Photon satellite bus will deliver CAPSTONE into a trajectory towards the Moon. Credit: Illustration by NASA/Daniel Rutter
On Thursday night, September 8, the CAPSTONE spacecraft performed a planned trajectory correction maneuver. Near completion of that maneuver, CAPSTONE entered into safe mode. Subsequently, mission controllers found that the spacecraft was toppling and the onboard computer system systems were occasionally resetting.
Now, the CAPSTONE team continues to work on recovery efforts. At this time, the main ongoing focus is to warm the spacecrafts propulsion system, as it dropped below its functional temperature level limit following the initial issue that put the spacecraft into safe mode on September 8.
Over the past few days, CAPSTONEs power has actually been restricted by the orientation of the spacecraft in its spin relative to the Sun. It appears to be enough for heating of the propulsion system. After the spacecraft propulsion system temperature level has been at a temperature of a minimum of 41 ° F (5 ° C) for a minimum of 12 hours, the group will further assess the system for use in the healing operation.
On Thursday night, September 8, the CAPSTONE spacecraft performed a planned trajectory correction maneuver. Consequently, mission controllers found that the spacecraft was toppling and the onboard computer systems were regularly resetting.
Over the previous couple of days, CAPSTONEs power has been limited by the orientation of the spacecraft in its spin relative to the Sun.
By NASA
September 16, 2022
Communications with the spacecraft have also improved. This has actually offered mission teams with more data from the spacecraft. Presently, groups are still evaluating the information to identify the cause of the issues and design recovery procedures to avoid similar concerns throughout the tried recovery operation.
Read the complete upgrade from Advanced Space, which owns CAPSTONE on behalf of NASA. Additional updates will be supplied here as available..