NASA launches CAPSTONE mission to the moon

The NASA researchers successfully launched CAPSTONE spacecraft to the moon from New Zealand. The launch took place on Rocket Lab’s Electron rocket. Mission CAPSTONE stands for Cislunar Autonomous Positioning System Technology Operations and Navigation Experiment. With a price tag just shy of $30 million, NASA hopes the mission will verify that a specific type of moon orbit is suitable for the lunar Gateway space station that the agency aims to launch later this decade.

About the CAPSTONE:

CAPSTONE is a microwave oven-sized spacecraft with the aim to study a specific type of moon orbit that will be suitable for the lunar Gateway space station that NASA aims to launch later this decade. The lunar Gateway space station will be a small space station for astronauts in orbits where they can stop before and after going to the moon’s surface.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams:

• NASA administrator: Bill Nelson;
• Headquarters of NASA: Washington D.C., United States;
• NASA Founded: 1 October 1958.