"CAPSTONE" satellite breaks free from Earth orbit, heads for moon

 

Image courtesy of NASA

NASA's "Cislunar Autonomous Positioning System Technology Operations and Navigations Experiment" (CAPSTONE) satellite has broken away from Earth's orbit and is now on its way to the moon. The satellite is projected to attain lunar orbit on Nov. 13.

The 55 pound, microwave oven-sized satellite was launched on June 28, 2022 from a launch site on New Zealand's Mahia Peninsula with the purpose of attaining a "near-rectilinear halo orbit" around Earth's moon in order to verify the orbit's properties for further utilization in space exploration-related endeavours.

CAPSTONE's progress can be tracked via NASA's "Eyes on the Solar System" application.

Update (7/6/22): Communication with CAPSTONE was briefly lost after the satellite left orbit but it has since been reestablished.

Update (7/27/22): CAPSTONE has completed its third correctional manuever at about 780,000 miles from Earth and remains on course for the moon.

Update (8/11/22): CAPSTONE has been nominated Small Satellite Conference's "Mission of the Year" for 2022.