Rocket Lab - CAPSTONE Launch 28/06/2022

[king1]

Just in case you missed it...

This one sets a satellite into a unique orbit around the moon.  
From what I understand it will be a test of the orbit that might be used for a bigger gateway station to placed in the same orbit down the track...

Pretty impressive stuff for little ol' NZ.  The actual launch starts around 58 minutes in

CAPSTONEÔÇÖs primary objective is to test and verify the calculated orbital stability of a Near Rectilinear Halo Orbit around the Moon, the same orbit planned for Gateway. NASAÔÇÖs Gateway is a small space station that will orbit around the Moon to provide astronauts with access to the lunar surface. It will feature living quarters for astronauts, a lab for science and research and ports for visiting spacecraft. CAPSTONE will also test a navigation system developed by Advanced Space that will measure its absolute position in cislunar space using interaction with NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter without relying on ground stations for navigation support.

https://www.rocketlabusa.com/missions/lunar/

[yousnoozeyoulose]

Great stuff. Some people were a bit miffed that it was taking so long to get to the moon, but if it doesn't need to be quick then why should it?!

And in other unrelated space news... a moon mystery.
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/27/scien...ocket.html

[Lilith7]

Great stuff. Some people were a bit miffed that it was taking so long to get to the moon, but if it doesn't need to be quick then why should it?!

And in other unrelated space news... a moon mystery.
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/27/scien...ocket.html

Hmm..wonders if putting Putin into orbit around the moon might work...

[C_T_Russell]

Just in case you missed it...

This one sets a satellite into a unique orbit around the moon.  
From what I understand it will be a test of the orbit that might be used for a bigger gateway station to placed in the same orbit down the track...

Pretty impressive stuff for little ol' NZ.  The actual launch starts around 58 minutes in

CAPSTONEÔÇÖs primary objective is to test and verify the calculated orbital stability of a Near Rectilinear Halo Orbit around the Moon, the same orbit planned for Gateway. NASAÔÇÖs Gateway is a small space station that will orbit around the Moon to provide astronauts with access to the lunar surface. It will feature living quarters for astronauts, a lab for science and research and ports for visiting spacecraft. CAPSTONE will also test a navigation system developed by Advanced Space that will measure its absolute position in cislunar space using interaction with NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter without relying on ground stations for navigation support.

https://www.rocketlabusa.com/missions/lunar/

Kinda impressive that little old NZ is now one of a handful of countries capable of sending stuff to the moon!