Rocket Lab has successfully launched NASA’s 55-pound (about 25kg) CAPSTONE cube satellite, which will orbit the Moon. With this launch, NASA’s Artemis mission, which aims to send a man to the Moon for the first time since 1972, completes another small but important step.
The launch proceeded nominally, according to NASA’s publication, and reached low Earth orbit in approximately ‘T’ plus 10 minutes. The Electron launch is quite similar to other launches, except that the first rocket is powered by batteries and electricity instead of a gas turbine. As batteries are used, there is a phase called “battery release” that happens near the end of the launch cycle.
Rocket Lab used an Electron rocket with a special attachment called the Lunar Photon upper stage, which is powerful enough to send the rocket into deep space. The company stated that this is one of the smallest rockets to attempt to launch a payload into lunar orbit. It was launched from Rocket Lab’s site on New Zealand’s Mahia Peninsula and represented “the highest mass and highest performance Electron has ever had to fly,” according to a previous conversation the company had with TechCrunch.
CAPSTONE will orbit Earth for nine days to build up enough velocity for a translunar injection (TLI) to eventually allow it to orbit the Moon. The initial goal here is described as validating a type of highly elliptical lunar orbit called the “near linear halo” planned for the Gateway space station. The Gateway will be placed in lunar orbit by SpaceX, with a science lab and habitats for astronauts and ports for future spacecraft.
The satellite is scheduled to reach the Moon on November 13. You can click here to see the replay of the live broadcast…
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