NASA’s CAPSTONE is set to become the first spacecraft to fly a specific unique lunar orbit. Here’s more about it.
What is CAPSTONE?
NASA’s CAPSTONE is short for Cislunar Autonomous Positioning System Technology Operations and Navigation Experiment. The CubeSat, approximately the size of a microwave oven, will serve as a pathfinder for future crewed lunar missions.
The unique orbit is called a near rectilinear halo orbit (NRHO). The spacecraft will arrive near NRHO on November 13. Designed and built by Tyvak Nano-Satellite Systems, the project received funding from NASA’s Small Business Technology Transfer program.
Rocket Lab took to Twitter and revealed that efforts have been in progress for over 2 years. Delayed by a day, CAPSTONE is now targetting to launch on June 28.
The launch will take place from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand’s Mahia Peninsula. If successful, it could help improve the efficiency of solar cells for space missions and use on Earth.
More on the lunar mission
Additionally, this is going to be the first spacecraft to test the stability of the new orbit NRHO. Hence, it is crucial as the pull of gravity from the earth and the moon interact in this spot in space to allow for a nearly-stable orbit.
The unique type of orbit will be used by NASA for parking its lunar-orbiting space station Gateway as part of its Artemis program that is scheduled to take two astronauts to the lunar south pole in 2024-25 and construct a lunar base.
CAPSTONE will also be carrying a radio and a dedicated payload flight computer. They will also help in performing calculations and determining if CubeSat is in its orbital path.
“The moon is a long way away. You’re also traveling at huge velocities. So it only takes the smallest fraction of an angle error or a velocity error, and you just shoot way past where you need to be,” stated Peter Beck. Beck is the CEO of Rocket Lab.
