Info about CAPSTONE Moon Mission

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     Info about CAPSTONE


Hi everyone, this is an exciting day to start something new to learn. Aha! Perfect. Let’s begin!

 


Intro


 CAPSTONE is a very important part of Artemis. This mission is to mainly, reduce any risk. Importantly, it will be home to Gateway. It will also study any characteristics of the Moon that will add up some confidence to the future plans of Artemis. But this orbiter isn’t going blast off and orbit the Moon, it will do it in a special way. (To learn more about this “special way” read more!)

  

CAPSTONE

CAPSTONE (Cislunar Autonomous Positioning System Technology Operations and Navigation Experiment) is a lunar orbiter for the Artemis mission. It is just a microwave oven sized Cubesat that weighs 55 pounds (25 kilograms). This lunar orbiter is operated and owned by Advanced Space in Westminster, Colorado.  To see this important orbiter, visit https://eyes.nasa.gov/

  

Well, the special way is called NRHO (Near Rectilinear Halo Orbit) it is a unique orbit that will be easy to study the Moon. 

I know that CAPSTONE is a small part of Artemis. But a big chance of our dream come true. CAPS (CAPSTONE’s shortcut) starts its journey, but we will need help from Rocket Lab.


The Rocket Electron

 But how did CAPSTONE go to space? That job is for Rocket Electron. Electron is a two-stage rocket owned by Rocket Lab. Electron sent orbiter CAPSTONE with the spacecraft Photon. Each launch of Electron costs about $7.5 million dollars, that is so much money! 


The thing that it is so special is, that it is the only reusable orbital-class small rocket. Electron weighs 13 tons when liftoff, it is about 43.7 yards high (40 meters). When the first stage is happening, its height is 13.2 yards (12.1 meters) and when the second stage is happening 2.6 yards (2.4 meters). 

 

The Spacecraft Photon

Rocket Lab isn’t going to stop there. The latest spacecraft development is Photon. It has been flight proven, and customizable from low earth orbit to other cosmic destinations, just like this one. It can be easily adapted to missions, and is also built by Rocket Lab. The first mission for Photon was this mission, CAPSTONE. It is much more reliable and affordable spacecraft to use for mission. It is just a satellite bus, which means it is going to transport satellite to its destination, like you (satellite) going on a bus (Photon) to school (destination). 

In this mission, Photon is like an upper stage for CAPS, and it also carries instruments, too.

 

Conclusion

I think that CAPSTONE is a crucial part of Artemis and has interesting parts. We, yes, you and I, and everyone should be proud. Ok, I guess it's time to say goodbye. Well, goodbye space readers!

 

 

-Akshaya Dhathri Bandari     

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