NASA launched its capstone spacecraft

Tags: Science and Technology

The US space agency NASA launched its capstone spacecraft from New Zealand's Mahia Peninsula.

• This microwave oven-sized spacecraft is 25 kg.

• The spacecraft will orbit the Moon for six months and test the stability of the orbit before using NASA's Lunar Gateway.

• It has been launched from the electron booster rocket of the American company Rocket Lab.

• The Lunar Gateway will be launched in 2024 and will serve as a staging area to land humans on the Moon for the first time in 50 years.

• The Lunar Gateway will be a space station revolving around the Moon.

• The capstone will orbit the moon in the shape of a halo. That is, it will not rotate completely round considering the moon as the centre.

• It will orbit 1600 km closest to the moon and 70,000 km farthest. It will make one round of the moon in seven days.

• About NASA -

• NASA was formed under the National Aeronautics and Space Act on July 19, 1948, in place of its predecessor, the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA).

• NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration

• Headquarters- Washington D.C.

• Administrator - Bill Nelson