ULA Atlas V 541 - USSF-12 [Live: 01.07.2022, 22:00 UTC]

almost 2 years ago (Edited)

Rocket Lab's CAPSTONE Update

Rocket Lab launched its first mission outisde of Earth's orbit just a few days ago. The "Cislunar Autonomous Positioning System Technology Operations and Navigation Experiment" (CAPSTONE) mission is going better than expected and only one final injection burn is requred for the spacraft to enter its rectilinear halo orbit around the Moon.

The Moon just got a little closer! We've successfully ignited Photon's HyperCurie engine a 6th time, raising #CAPSTONE's apogee to 69,680 km. Since we combined 2 burns into 1 for this maneuver, only 1 final burn remains to set CAPSTONE on a ballistic lunar transfer to the Moon pic.twitter.com/Etnu5EMOXi
— Rocket Lab (@RocketLab) July 1, 2022

ULA USSF 12

The United Launch Alliance (ULA) is launching two satellites from Space Launch Complex 41, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida.
One for the U.S. Space Force Space Systems Command (SSC) and the other for the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD).

Combined payload mass is 4'100 kg.

Target is a geosynchronous orbit.

The Atlas V is flying in a 541 configuration: 5 meter diameter fairing, 4 solid rocket boosters and 1 Centaur second stage engine.

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