August 01, 2022
As part of its Cislunar Autonomous Positioning System Technology Operations and Navigation Experiment (CAPSTONE), the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) launched a microwave oven-sized satellite from New Zealand on June 28. This satellite will serve as the first spacecraft to study a unique lunar orbit and help scientists analyse if the orbit is suitable for a space station called Gateway that NASA aims to launch as part of its Artemis programme.
In the future, astronauts would stop at Gateway before and after going to the moon. Gateway would be placed in a near-rectilinear halo orbit. As no other spacecraft has ever travelled in this orbit, CAPSTONE will provide NASA’s scientists with all the information needed to operate Gateway in this orbit.
Did You Know?
A ‘waterworld’ discovered by NASA is located about 40 light years away from the Earth and might contain hot ice and superfluid water.
Image Source: nasa.gov
