Published 17:09 IST, June 28th 2022

Rocket Lab successfully launches NASA's CAPSTONE mission; quest for Moon landing begins

Rocket Lab's Electron Rocket lifted off with NASA's CAPSTONE satellite from New Zealand on June 28 at 3:36 pm IST from the Mahia peninsula.

Reported by: Harsh Vardhan
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Image: NASA | Image: self
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Rocket Lab's Electron Rocket successfully lifted off with NASA's CAPSTONE CubeSat from New Zealand on June 28. two-st Electron took off at 3:36 pm IST from Rocket Lab's launch site in Mahia peninsula kickstarting NASA's quest to send astronauts back to Moon. About ten minutes after launch, when rocket crossed Karman line ( boundary of ), first st separated from Photon bus.

second st Photon is where CAPSTONE CubeSat is attached. According to NASA, this Photon will help satellite escape Earth's orbit and eventually enter Moon's. tably, secondary launch vehicle will conduct a series of orbit-raising maneuvers over next six days, and on final day, it will conduct a final burn, accelerating itself to 39,428 kilometres per hour. This acceleration will allow CAPSTONE to escape Earth's orbit and will set CubeSat on its course.

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In a recent update, Rocket Lab CEO Peter Beck revealed that Photon has executed its first orbital burn and is on its way to Moon. 

Understanding pioneering mission

NASA believes that CAPSTONE (Cislunar Automous Positioning System Techlogy Operations and Navigation Experiment) is a pathfinder mission that will pave way for next Moon landing. Under this mission, NASA, along with Advanced and its or partners, will study 'Near Rectilinear Halo Orbit' (NHRO), same orbit planned for Lunar Gateway

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Designed to last six months, Cubesat, which weighs around 25 kg, will reach lunar orbit in four months and test feasibility of NHRO. It will be sent 1.3 million kilometers away, which is approximately three times distance between Moon and Earth. What's more, is that highly stretched orbit would take bring CubeSat within 3,400 kilometres of its rrn pole but 76,000 kilometres from sourn one. 

"CAPSTONE serves as a pathfinder for orbit planned for Gateway – a station at Moon that will support NASA’s Artemis program", NASA said in a statement. "CAPSTONE will help reduce risk for future craft by validating invative navigation techlogies and verifying dynamics of this unique, halo-shaped orbit".

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17:09 IST, June 28th 2022