Rocket Lab to launch spacecraft into lunar orbit within this year

Rocket Lab has made it clear that it will conduct its first lunar mission launch from its facility in New Zealand during the fourth quarter of 2021. The probe is a cubesat called CAPSTONE (Cislunar Autonomous Positioning System Technology Operations and Navigation Experiment), which oversees the Artemis project.

CAPSTONE investigates data removal for verification of propulsion required for elliptical orbit around the moon, testing of a spacecraft navigation system, and the possibility of civilian support in the future. Data from the mission is also used for lunar orbital gateways.

Rocket Lab has experienced two failures so far with launches using Electron rockets. In May, the BlackSky earth observation satellite was lost due to an abnormality in the two-stage booster injection. Although it only recently resumed launch, the launch of CAPSTONE lunar orbit using the Proton platform will appeal to the revival of the Rocket Lab, while at the same time being an opportunity to revitalize and redeem honor in more challenging projects. Related information can be found here.