Page 4 - Spec Tech Vol 1 Issue 06
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NASA's tiny CAPSTONE probe still struggling
en route to the moon
Image Credit: NASA
Engineers are still troubleshooting the are currently "collecting information from the
glitches afflicting NASA's tiny spacecraft, running simulations and refining
moon-bound CAPSTONE probe. recovery plans," added Advanced Space. NASA,
CAPSTONE entered safe mode after in its own update, echoed these procedures and
an engine burn on Sept. 8, and the emphasized the spacecraft is still flying
mission team has been addressing the toward the moon and "generating more power
problem ever since. The microwave from its solar panels than the spacecraft systems
oversized CAPSTONE is a pioneer are using."
in cubesat science, helping to expand The initial glitch "resulted in the vehicle attitude
the reach of these little spacecraft well [orientation] rates growing beyond the capacity of
beyond Earth orbit. the onboard reaction wheels to control and
The still-undiagnosed issues may counter," according to a Sept. 12 update from
demonstrate the challenge of operating Advanced Space. CAPSTONE entered safe
smaller vehicles in the radiation-laden mode as a result.
environment of deep space. According CAPSTONE launched atop a Rocket Lab Electron
to the CAPSTONE teams, the booster on June 28 with an ambitious mission to
55-pound (25 kilograms) spacecraft is occupy and characterize a lunar near rectilinear
in a stable condition at the moment, but halo orbit (NRHO). That's the same orbit that will
engineers have not yet gained full be used by NASA's Gateway space station in a
control of it. few years. NASA wants to verify how stable the
"The CAPSTONE mission team is orbit is ahead of launching Gateway, which is a
continuing to work towards recovery of key part of the agency's Artemis moon program.
the spacecraft's full three-axis control," Aside from this orbital verification, the cubesat
the Colorado company Advanced has navigation and communications experiments
Space, which operates the spacecraft planned, including some in partnership with
for NASA, wrote during its latest update NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter.
on Sept. 30. (The three axes are yaw, CAPSTONE isn't expected to reach the moon
pitch and roll, which are used in until Nov. 13, and it remains on course, team
aerospace to define movements of members have said.
objects in the air or in space. Teams
Space Explorer 2022 4
