Nasa’s Capstone satellite phones home and is on course for the moon
- Data shows spacecraft in good health after operating safely on its own while out of contact with Earth
- The US$32.7 million craft is the size of a microwave oven and is on its way to test a lopsided lunar orbit
The US space agency said on Wednesday that contact had been restored with the satellite, which spent nearly a week circling the globe after launching from New Zealand on June 28.
Nasa said data shows “the spacecraft is in good health and operated safely on its own while it was out of contact with Earth.” The cause of the communications drop-off is under investigation.
Capstone’s mission is to test out a lopsided lunar orbit which, if successful, will balance the gravities of the Earth and moon and allow the satellite – or a space station – to stay in constant contact with home.
Nasa lost contact with the satellite, which weighs 25kg (55lbs) and is the size of a microwave oven, after one successful communication and a second partial one on Monday, soon after it was kick-started out of Earth’s orbit.