The launch proceeded nominally according to the NASA show, reaching a low Earth orbit in about “T” plus 10 minutes. An Electron launch is very similar to any other, except that it is the first rocket to be powered by batteries rather than a gas turbine. Therefore, there is a phase called “battery launch” that occurs near the end of the launch cycle. The Rocket Lab used an Electron rocket with a special addition called the upper lunar photon stage with enough power to send it into deep space. It is one of the smallest rockets attempting to launch a payload into lunar orbit, the company said. It was launched from the Rocket Lab site on New Zealand’s Mahia Peninsula and is “the highest mass and highest performance Electron has ever had to fly with enough space,” the company told TechCrunch earlier. CAPSTONE will orbit the Earth for nine days to generate enough speed for a supermoon infusion (TLI) to allow it to eventually orbit the Moon. The primary goal is to verify a type of highly elliptical lunar orbit called the “near-line halo” programmed for the Gateway space station. The Gateway will eventually be delivered to lunar orbit by SpaceX with a science lab and astronauts’ living quarters, along with ports for future spacecraft. The Rocket Lab was supposed to launch CAPSTONE yesterday, but delayed it until today “to carry out final system tests,” NASA wrote. Regardless of the launch date, it is scheduled to reach the moon on November 13th. To see a repeat of the live broadcast, check here.
