It’s only been a day since CAPSTONE left Earth’s orbit. Since its launch on June 28, the spacecraft has been in orbit around the planet, with Rocket Lab responsible for positioning it at its final destination before departing for the Moon. However, July 5 just a day later, NASA confirms it has lost all communication with the ship.
Sarah Frazier, NASA Representative wrote an email confirming the event a Space. The aforementioned comment that they are trying to sort out the situation, as well as to resume contact with the lunar orbiter.
The spacecraft team is currently working to determine the cause and restore contact. The team has good data on the spacecraft’s trajectory based on the first full pass of the ground station and the second partial pass using the Deep Space Network.
Sarah Fraser, NASA Representative
Fraser adds that, if necessary, the mission will have enough fuel to “delay the initial trajectory correction maneuver.” This stage is after the separation of the orbiter with the rocket that delivered it to the point. Moreover, this ensures that They will report it in the coming days. or as soon as possible.
Fortunately for NASA, the initial connection between CAPSTONE and its headquarters let them know the ship’s trajectory. That is, at least they know where to look with the Deep Space Network antennas they use to communicate with the orbiter.
NASA doesn’t have all the time in the world.
Of course, the space agency is tasked with solving this problem as soon as possible. CAPSTONE is on its way to the moon. Although at the moment the influence of terrestrial, solar and lunar gravity, let the ship follow its correct courseNASA will still have to make some changes in order for it to successfully reach its goal: the Moon.
According to Fraser, these maneuvers could drag on for several days if absolutely necessary. However, NASA would ideally be able to re-contact the orbiter before the fuel runs out.
Learn more about CAPSTONE
For its part, CAPSTONE represents the beginning of one of NASA’s greatest adventures. After a four month journey the launch of the spacecraft into the orbit of the moon is expected around next November 13th. Once here, it will fly about 3,400 kilometers to the satellite’s north pole at its closest point. However, the farthest will be the South Pole, approximately 76,000 kilometers. This cycle will repeat every six and a half days for six months.
CAPSTONE is a pioneer in many ways and will showcase several technological possibilities during its mission by sailing a never-before-seen orbit around the moon. CAPSTONE lays the groundwork for Artemis, Gateway and commercial support for future lunar operations.
POT
With this data, NASA plans to test the stability of the lunar orbit. Cause? Build the first lunar space station, called Gateway, and it will be part of the Artemisa mission. Until now, these types of missions had no precedents, so they would denote before and after space missions.
Source: Hiper Textual
