US Moon Orbital Test Satellite Contact Lost... Space Station Construction Disrupted

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] A satellite launched to test the orbit of a space station to be built around the lunar orbit lost communication while heading to the Moon. Significant setbacks are feared for the 'Artemis' program, which aims to build a space station and surface base on the Moon.

On the 5th (local time), the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) announced in a statement that the satellite 'CAPSTONE,' launched to test the orbit of the space station to be built on the Moon, lost communication shortly after leaving Earth's low orbit and entering the trajectory toward the Moon. The satellite was launched on the 28th of last month from Rocket Lab's Electron rocket at the Mahia Peninsula Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand and had been orbiting Earth's low orbit for six days preparing to enter the lunar trajectory.

CAPSTONE, about the size of a microwave and weighing approximately 25 kg, successfully separated after the final firing of the Photon engine on the 4th and entered the trajectory toward the Moon. However, communication was lost with NASA's Deep Space Network (DSN) radio network thereafter. NASA stated that it has detailed data on the flight trajectory up to the last communication and is making efforts to restore communication.

Additionally, NASA emphasized that "CAPSTONE has sufficient fuel to delay the initial flight trajectory correction maneuvers for several days after separation from Photon." This suggests that if communication is restored, there remains a possibility to place CAPSTONE into lunar orbit.

However, significant setbacks are expected for the original goal of constructing the lunar orbit space station. According to the plan, CAPSTONE was scheduled to arrive around the Moon on November 13, about four months later, and conduct a six-month test flight orbiting the Gateway's orbit.

Previously, CAPSTONE was launched to test an elliptical orbit called the 'Near-Rectilinear Halo Orbit (NRHO),' which is close to a straight line. This orbit draws a vertically elongated ellipse perpendicular to the Earth-Moon orbital plane, balancing the gravitational forces of Earth and the Moon to maintain stable flight while minimizing fuel consumption. It also has the advantage of always being in a position to communicate with Earth, which is why it was adopted.