Panic at Nasa as scientists LOSE contact with $32.7million spacecraft headed for the Moon
NASA has reestablished contact with a multi-million dollar probe after it went dark for more than 24 hours.
The CAPSTONE satellite sparked panic among scientists on Monday when it failed to make contact after separating from a larger spacecraft.
But on Wednesday the space agency said they had managed to get in touch with the $32.7million spacecraft again.
"We have re-established communications with CAPSTONE. The spacecraft is looking happy and healthy," an agency working with Nasa .
CAPSTONE - which stands for Cislunar Autonomous Positioning System Technology Operations and Navigation Experiment - is an early research mission in Nasa plans to return humans to the moon.
The mini sat was launched into orbit on a Rocket Lab Electron booster on June 28, and separated from the carrier on July 4.
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The spacecraft made two correspondences with operators on Earth after detaching from its carrier before the connection dropped out for unexplained reasons.
After deploying its solar arrays and readying its onboard propulsion system, it went dark.
The loss of contact forced mission controllers to delay a scheduled course-correction which was scheduled for July 5.
But luckily, the CAPSTONE mission should continue as planned, as it has fuel reserves on board that can withstand "several days" of delays, reports.
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The 55-pound satellite is testing an orbital path that could suit a permanent lunar space station.
The long, ovular orbit was selected for testing because it uses the gravities of Earth and the Moon, minimizing the need for fuel.
"Researchers expect this orbit to be a gravitational sweet spot in space – where the pull of gravity from Earth and the Moon interact to allow for a nearly stable orbit – allowing physics to do most of the work of keeping a spacecraft in lunar orbit," a said.
Gateway is Nasa's ambitious plan to deploy a lunar space station serving as a pitstop for astronauts on the way to the Moon and beyond.
Once CAPSTONE settles into its orbit in late November, researchers will analyze if the orbit is suitable for a long-term space station.
"CAPSTONE's flight will demonstrate how this unique lunar orbit can support future spacecraft around the moon, helping to launch a new era of human space exploration," a video promoting the small but mighty satellite said.
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The CAPSTONE is the first mission in Nasa's newest chapter of spaceflights called Artemis.
Future Artemis missions will put humans on the surface of the Moon for the first time in over 50 years.