The amazing orbit around the Moon for the future station has been successfully tested


Capstone primary mission completed successfully. For 6 months, she was able to test a particular orbit around the Moon. It is she that will later borrow the orbital space station Gateway. The nanosatellite has succeeded in its reconnaissance mission, but its work continues.

Photos of the Moon, there are plenty. But, pictures of the satellite coming from the tiny Capstone probe, there weren’t any yet. It’s done: the American space agency (Nasa) shared the first photo of the craft on May 18, 2023. It was taken on May 3 during the flyby of the North Pole of the Moon, at a relatively low altitude.

At first glance, the photo appears failed. The Moon is blurry. It is very far from the quality of the photographs taken by other probes or space missions. Even from Earth, it is possible to take more successful shots. But you have to bear in mind the particular characteristics of Capstone, which is an orbiter of tiny dimensions.

Capstone’s photo. // Source: Capstone/Nasa

Captsone belongs to the Cubesats category, which includes all extremely miniaturized machines. Realize: NASA compares its dimensions to those of a microwave. Only the weight really differs: Capstone is around 24 kg. Inevitably, this smallness leaves little room to put an advanced photo sensor.

Key tests for the Artemis program

The essential, however, is elsewhere. It was not to draw the portrait of the Moon that Capstone was sent, but to test a special orbit. It is she who will later be used at the Gateway orbital station. It will be the equivalent, for the Moon, of the International Space Station (ISS): it will be the link between the Earth and the surface of the satellite.

The orbit of the future lunar space station.  // Source: ESA
The orbit of the future lunar space station. // Source: ESA

And, precisely, this objective is achieved. NASA announces in its progress report that the small spacecraft has managed to maintain its almost rectilinear halo orbit – this is the name given to the particular trajectory that Gateway will follow – for a period of at least six months. This orbit, which resembles an ellipse, is considered ideal for the manned missions of the Artemis program.

Capstone reached the Moon in November 2022, after quite a bumpy journey. The craft had encountered communication problems at the start of its journey, which were later resolved, and then another malfunction a few months later. Again, NASA was able to take steps to secure the nanosatellite.

capstone orbit
The animated orbit. // Source: NASA

Capstone will continue to fly in this orbit and experiment with onboard technologies for a year. “, specifies the space agency. It was also during this first phase of six months that Capstone tested in May a navigation technology similar to terrestrial GPS. This device will be useful in helping robots and astronauts navigate the Moon.

Artemis is in its second major phase, following the success of the Artemis I mission. NASA has launched the training of the crew of Artemis II, whose members were selected in April. It must also announce the name of the company that will manufacture a second lander. In the longer term, an evolution of the SLS rocket is also planned, for the post-Artémis II period.


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