CAPSTONE
Electron
Rocket Lab Ltd
Mission
CAPSTONE
Type: Planetary Science
Launch Cost: $6,000,000
CAPSTONE (Cislunar Autonomous Positioning System Technology Operations and Navigation Experiment) is a 12-U cubesat mission to test operations in near rectiliniar halo orbit around the Moon, which is to be used for the Lunar Gateway space station. Mission will verify the near rectilinear halo orbit characteristics, spacecraft-to-spacecraft navigation services in that orbit, and provide valuable experience of small sat launch to the Moon.
Trajectory
View the rocket launch trajectory, velocity, altitude, thrust and much more at FlightClub.io
Location
Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1B
Onenui Station, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand
29 rockets have launched from Onenui Station, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand.
Rocket
Electron – Rocket Lab Ltd
Family: Electron
Length: 18 m
Diameter: 1.2 m
Launch Mass: 13 T
Low Earth Orbit Capacity: 300 kg
The Electron was manufactured by Rocket Lab Ltd with the first launch on 2017-05-25. Electron has 26 successful launches and 3 failed launches with a total of 29 launches. Electron is a two-stage orbital expendable launch vehicle (with an optional third stage) developed by the American aerospace company Rocket Lab. Electron is a small-lift launch vehicle designed to launch small satellites and cubesats to sun-synchronous orbit and low earth orbit. The Electron is the first orbital class rocket to use electric-pump-fed engines, powered by the 9 Rutherford engines on the first stage.
Agency
Rocket Lab Ltd
Type: Commercial
Abbreviation: RL
Administration: CEO: Peter Beck
Founded: 2006
Launchers: Electron
Country: USA
Rocket Lab is an American aerospace manufacturer with a wholly owned New Zealand subsidiary. The company develops lightweight, cost-effective commercial rocket launch services. The Electron Program was founded on the premise that small payloads such as CubeSats require dedicated small launch vehicles and flexibility not currently offered by traditional rocket systems. Its rocket, the Electron, is a light-weight rocket and is now operating commercially. Electron currently launches from only Mahia Peninsula in New Zealand however a second launch complex in the US is under development.
Go Rocket Lab. This experiment will make way for the “Lunar Gateway Space Station” and provide appropriate navigational capabilities in lunar orbit which is essential .
Small satellites around the moon here we come .
Up up and away homes and don’t forget your lollipops
Slip those surly bonds … Counting down, looking your way 28th!
Great launch by our N.Z space friends, that little microwave size cubesat should arrive around the moon in November so take care folks .
GOOD NEWS:
Communication with the cubesat is back on track next stop moon orbit.!