Update on CAPSTONE communications issue (Image Credit: Space Daily)
Following successful deployment and start of spacecraft commissioning on July 4, the Cislunar Autonomous Positioning System Technology Operations and Navigation Experiment (CAPSTONE) spacecraft experienced communications issues while in contact with the Deep Space Network.
The spacecraft team currently is working to understand the cause and re-establish contact. The team has good trajectory data for the spacecraft based on the first full and second partial ground station pass with the Deep Space Network. If needed, the mission has enough fuel to delay the initial post separation trajectory correction maneuver for several days. Additional updates will be provided as soon as possible.
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NASA’s CAPSTONE lunar orbiter leaves Earth orbit
Washington DC (UPI) Jul 5, 2021
The CAPSTONE orbiter left the low Earth orbit on its way to the moon, NASA said in a statement.
The Cislunar Autonomous Positioning System Technology Operations and Navigation Experiment is attached to Rocket Lab’s Photon upper stage, which maneuvered CAPSTONE into position for its journey to the moon.
The Photon engine gradually increased its orbit over six days to 810,000 miles from Earth and released the CAPSTONE CubeSat on its trajectory to the moon on Sunday.
The spacecraft n … read more
