CAPSTONE over the lunar North Pole: After arrival at the Moon, CAPSTONE will begin its 6-month-long primary objective. The objective will validate a near rectilinear halo orbits attributes by demonstrating how to get in into and run in the orbit. Credit: Illustration by NASA/Daniel Rutter
Following an interactions problem that began in late January, NASAs CAPSTONE– short for Cislunar Autonomous Positioning System Technology Operations and Navigation Experiment– is currently operating well. Now the objective team is getting ready for upcoming innovation presentation tests.
Beginning on January 26, CAPSTONE was not able to receive commands from ground operators. The spacecraft stayed overall healthy and on-course throughout the concern, sending telemetry data back to Earth. On February 6, an automated command-loss timer rebooted CAPSTONE, clearing the issue and restoring two-way interaction in between CAPSTONE and the ground.
The CAPSTONE team, led by Advanced Space, is now preparing for continued screening of the spacecrafts Cislunar Autonomous Positioning System, or CAPS, and other technology presentations.
CAPS is a navigation innovation established by Advanced Space that uses data between two or more spacecraft to pinpoint a satellites area in area. The test will involve two spacecraft: CAPSTONE and NASAs Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO). Following interface testing with LROs ground systems, the CAPSTONE team tried to collect crosslink measurements in mid-January. Throughout this test, LRO received a signal from CAPSTONE, however CAPSTONE did not collect crosslink varying measurements from the returned signal. These outcomes will help improve extra CAPS tests over the coming weeks.
The team is likewise preparing for the objectives other innovation demonstrations, including a brand-new CAPS information type that will utilize one-way uplink measurements made it possible for by the spacecrafts Chip Scale Atomic Clock.
Since getting here to orbit at the Moon on November 13, 2022, CAPSTONE has completed more than 12 orbits in its near-rectilinear halo orbit (NRHO)– the same orbit for Gateway– going beyond one of the missions objectives to accomplish at least six orbits. These maneuvers were initially set up to take place when per orbit, but the mission team was able to decrease the frequency while preserving the appropriate orbit.
CAPSTONE is owned by Advanced Space and the spacecraft was developed and developed by Terran Orbital. Operations are carried out jointly by teams at Advanced Space and Terran Orbital. The mission is moneyed by the Small Spacecraft Technology Program in NASAs Space Technology Mission Directorate.
Read the full update from Advanced Space.
CAPSTONE over the lunar North Pole: After arrival at the Moon, CAPSTONE will start its 6-month-long main objective. On February 6, an automatic command-loss timer rebooted CAPSTONE, clearing the concern and bring back two-way communication in between CAPSTONE and the ground.
Throughout this test, LRO received a signal from CAPSTONE, however CAPSTONE did not gather crosslink varying measurements from the returned signal. Because showing up to orbit at the Moon on November 13, 2022, CAPSTONE has completed more than 12 orbits in its near-rectilinear halo orbit (NRHO)– the very same orbit for Gateway– going beyond one of the objectives objectives to attain at least six orbits.
