NASA Loses Contact With Just-Launched Spacecraft Headed Toward Moon

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NASA has encountered communication issues and is attempting to reestablish contact with its Moon-bound CAPSTONE satellite.

It's a serious problem that could endanger the mission.

According to an official NASA update, the CAPSTONE spacecraft experienced communications issues while in contact with the Deep Space Network, which is a global network of three ground-based facilities.

Good Trajectory

Not everything is lost. According to the update, the CAPSTONE team has good trajectory data for the spacecraft based on the first full and second partial ground station pass with the Deep Space Network.

According to NASA, the team can delay the "trajectory correction maneuver" for several days.

Stepping Stone

The CAPSTONE mission may have been cheap, but losing communication so early is not a good sign.

The stage for NASA's Gateway space station is set by the satellite entering a near-recti linear halo around the Moon.

Without comms, CAPSTONE might never get there. We can't help but hope that the team will be able to get in touch with the small craft.

NASA promised to provide additional updates as soon as possible.

There is an update on the communications issue.

There is a NASA satellite headed towards the moon.