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CAPSTONE

Electron

Rocket Lab Ltd

Launch Status
Success

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

Mission patch for CAPSTONE

Location

Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1B

Onenui Station, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand

33 rockets have launched from Onenui Station, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand.

Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1B, 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 32 successful launches and 3 failed launches with a total of 35 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 – RL

  • 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.

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Ken & Judy
Ken & Judy
1 year ago

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 .

Michael
Michael
9 months ago

Up up and away homes and don’t forget your lollipops

Steve
Steve
9 months ago

Slip those surly bonds … Counting down, looking your way 28th!

Ken & Judy O
Ken & Judy O' Neill
8 months ago

Great launch by our N.Z space friends, that little microwave size cubesat should arrive around the moon in November so take care folks .

Ken & Judy O
Ken & Judy O' Neill
8 months ago

GOOD NEWS:
Communication with the cubesat is back on track next stop moon orbit.!