The moment of the rocket launch in the Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand. Photo: AP
NASA on Tuesday released a nanosatellite barely bigger than a microwave in space, as part of a historic mission send humans back to the moon.
The rocket carrying the tiny module CAPSTONE was successfully launched from the Mahia Peninsula in eastern New Zealand.
“Let’s go!” NASA said in a statement shortly after launch at 0955 GMT, described by Bradley Smith, director of launch services, as “absolutely fantastic”.
The final pre-launch preparations made by NASA on Tuesday. Photo: AP
“This amazing team just sent CAPSTONE into lunar orbit,” he said. Hopefully, within four months CAPSTONE will be able to initiate innovative “nearly straight halo orbits” around the Moon.
Weighing the size of a suitcase, the satellite is testing an orbit for NASA’s “Gateway” space station, which will travel around the moon and serve as a starting point for lunar exploration.
The orbit passes within 1,000 miles (1,600 kilometers) of the Moon at its closest point, before catapulting to 43,500 miles (70,000 kilometers) at its furthest point.
Scientists hope to harness the pull of the Moon and Earth minimize fuel consumption.
This data will be used as part of the US project to bring humans back to the moon. These initiatives include the first woman and the first black person to reach the Earth satellite.
NASA wants to establish a permanent presence on the moon and use it as a test bed for the technologies needed for a mission to Mars in the 1930s.
With information from AFP
DD
Source: Clarin
