WELLINGTON: Nasa blasted a nanosatellite barely bigger than a microwave oven into outer space on Tuesday, part of a landmark mission to return humans to the Moon.
A rocket carrying the tiny CAPSTONE module successfully launched from New Zealand’s eastern Mahia Peninsula to a deafening blast and a wash of fiery propulsion. All being well, in four months CAPSTONE will be in a position to begin an innovative surfboard-shaped "near rectilinear halo orbits" around the Moon.
Weighing about as much as a suitcase, the satellite is trail running an orbit for Nasa’s "Gateway" space station -- which will travel around the Moon and serve as a jumping off point for lunar exploration.
The orbit passes within 1,600-km of the Moon at its closest point, before catapulting to 43,500 miles away at the furthest. Scientists hope the orbit will be super-efficient, using the pull of both the Moon and the Earth to minimise fuel use.
As part of the same project, the United States eventually plans to put the first woman and first person of colour on the Moon. Nasa also plans to build a moonbase, and use the experience as a stepping stone to a crewed flight to Mars.
Trump, 77, is charged with 34 counts of falsifying business records
Garcetti said a criminal case and indictment had been brought “and if there is any connection to state actors in...
Tehran has always said it had no plans to obtain nuclear weapons
“Both sides have been working together to ensure continued operation of Indian aviation platforms,” India’s...
“China is one of the pillars of the new world order,” Orban said
“We are putting maximum pressure on our partners to increase weapon deliveries,” Zelensky said
