NASA Engineers Finally Controls Moon-Bound CAPSTONE Space Probe

NASA's Cislunar Autonomous Positioning System Technology Operations and Navigation Experiment (CAPSTONE) spacecraft, which is currently on a four-month space probe to an elliptical halo orbit around the moon, has been brought back under the supervision of a recovery team.

According to a statement from Advanced Space, the recovery crew found the issue to be a slightly opened valve on one of CAPSTONE's eight thrusters.

The necessary update was sent to the spacecraft yesterday and successfully implemented on Saturday morning. The probe is still on course as it approaches its intended operating orbit around the moon.

According to NASA, the original problem with the 55-pound (25-kilogram) spacecraft was caused by "a valve-related issue in one of the spacecraft's eight thrusters," half-open and spinning the ship.

Before the CubeSat's anticipated arrival on the moon on November 13, NASA is currently progressing with its retrieval strategy.

NASA Controls CAPSTONE Moon Probe After Tumbling in Space

CAPSTONE encountered issues after its third-course correction maneuver on September 8.

The 55-pound (25-kg) satellite lost all three-axis control and started to tumble uncomfortably. To reclaim control of the $33 million CubeSat, a recovery team led by Advanced Space, which owns and manages CAPSTONE on behalf of NASA, scurried.

The probe's propellant and propulsion system remained controllable, but CAPSTONE's solar panels could not be positioned to collect all the necessary energy.

The CubeSat, launched on June 28, is part of NASA's Artemis program, which aims to make a sustainable return to the moon.

NASA and its international partners will construct a space station dubbed Gateway in a gravitationally stable orbit termed a near-rectilinear halo orbit (NRHO) to host the Artemis personnel.

(Photo : Wikinmedia Commons/Daniel J. Rutter)
CAPSTONE is expected to be the first CubeSat to fly in cislunar space– the orbital space near and around the Moon. The mission will demonstrate an innovative spacecraft-to-spacecraft navigation solution at the Moon from a near rectilinear halo orbit slated for Artemis’ Gateway.

ALSO READ: NASA's CAPSTONE Successfully Burns First Engine Toward the Moon for 11 Minutes

Since no spacecraft has ever operated in NRHO, a scouting trip is necessary.

Gizmodo, citing advanced Space's press release, said the partially open valve generated thrust in the related thruster whenever the propulsion system was under pressure.

The recovery team devised a strategy to regain the vehicle's complete 3-axis control after conducting several tests and analyzing a large amount of telemetry and simulation data.

The probe received this recovery sequence on Thursday, carried out this morning. Teams from Terran Orbital, which developed and constructed CAPSTONE, collaborate with Advanced Space to carry out their joint operations.

How NASA Recovered CAPSTONE

Before attempting the recovery, Advanced Space conducted several spacecraft tests and ground simulations, the company stated in its CAPSTONE update on Friday.

To further lower the danger of future propulsive operations, the corporation emphasized that it is dedicated to assisting the spacecraft through impending crucial events and troubleshooting the valve closure.

"The CAPSTONE mission team is grateful for the public and private support provided to the team during this challenging phase of the mission," said Space.com, citing Advanced Space.

CAPSTONE was launched on June 28 atop a Rocket Lab Electron rocket and has already successfully navigated around a significant issue.

Shortly after separating from Rocket Lab's Photon spacecraft transport on July 4, the spacecraft went black. The problem was caused by a badly formatted command, which engineers successfully fixed the next day.