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A tiny spacecraft the size of a microwave could pave the way for a station between Earth and the moon - CNN
Jun 24, 2022 2 mins, 9 secs
The CubeSat will act as a pathfinder for Gateway, an orbiting lunar outpost that will serve as a way station between Earth and the moon for astronauts.

The orbit, which is called a near rectilinear halo orbit, is very elongated and provides stability for long-term missions while requiring little energy to maintain -- which is exactly what the Gateway will need.

The mission, called the Cislunar Autonomous Positioning System Technology Operations and Navigation Experiment, and known as CAPSTONE, is scheduled to lift off the launchpad on Monday, June 27, at 6 a.m.

Using this orbit will be more energy efficient for spacecraft flying to and from the Gateway since it requires less propulsion than more circular orbits.

The miniature spacecraft will also be used to test out communication capabilities with Earth from this orbit, which has the advantage of a clear view of Earth while also providing coverage for the lunar south pole -- where the first Artemis astronauts are expected to land in 2025.

NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbit, which has been circling the moon for 13 years, will provide a reference point for CAPSTONE.

"Gateway and Orion will use the data from CAPSTONE to validate our model, which will be important for operations and planning for the future mission."

Small satellites on big missions

The CAPSTONE mission is a rapid, low-cost demonstration with the intent to help lay a foundation for future small spacecraft, said Christopher Baker, the small spacecraft technology program executive at NASA's Space Technology Mission Directorate.

Small missions that can be put together and launched quickly at lower cost means that they can take chances that larger, more expensive missions can't.

Separately, the tiny satellites will measure hydrogen at the moon's south pole and map lunar water deposits, conduct a lunar flyby, and study particles and magnetic fields streaming from the sun.

More affordable missions

The CAPSTONE mission relies on NASA's partnership with commercial companies like Rocket Lab, Stellar Exploration, Terran Orbital Corporation and Advanced Space.

The Perseverance rover, currently exploring on Mars, cost more than $2 billion and the Artemis I mission has an estimated cost of $4.1 billion, according to an audit by the NASA Office of Inspector General.

These kinds of contracts can expand the opportunities for small, more affordable missions to the moon and other destinations while creating a framework for commercial support of future lunar operations, Baker said.

Baker's hope is that small spacecraft missions can increase the pace of space exploration and scientific discovery -- and CAPSTONE and other CubeSats are just the beginning.

Correction: A previous version of this story included an incorrect date for the launch.

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