NASA has managed to reconnect with one of its satellites that somehow stopped communicating on its way to the moon. The Deep Space Network lost communication with the tiny CubeSat on Tuesday, and thankfully NASA’s engineers were able to reestablish communication with the tiny CubeSat on Wednesday.
The satellite left Earth Monday, which NASA considered an important milestone on its 4 month trip to the moon. The CubeSat, also known as CAPSTONE, is the Cislunar Autonomous Positioning System Technology Operations and Navigation Experiment.
NASA said the connection difficulties forced the mission team to delay the satellite’s first trajectory correction maneuver originally scheduled for July 5.
According to NASA the CAPSTONE starts charging its onboard battery using solar arrays. NASA said the CAPSTONE is waiting for the trajectory correction and remains on the overall intended course for its ballistic lunar transfers.
NASA’s space team hopes the mission will provide future spacecraft with an efficient path to and from the moon’s surface. If the satellite can maintain its orbit, it would allow them to launch and place a lunar outpost called the Gateways. In addition, it will enable the satellite to test its communication abilities while showing a beautiful view of Earth.
Additionally, the CubeSat will communicate with NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, a spacecraft that has been circling the moon for 13 years.
