The moonbound CAPSTONE cubesat was in safe mode for a month, spinning out of control, after a stuck-open valve caused issues on the deep space mission.
After reviewing CAPSTONE's telemetry and other observational information, NASA and the Colorado company Advanced Space said engineers now have command of yaw, pitch and roll to control the cubesat's position in space.and adjusted the pointing of its antennas to provide a better data connection to Earth," NASA said, which presumably will allow further commands to stabilize the spacecraft even further.
Nevertheless, the spacecraft"remains on track" to occupy and characterize a lunar near rectilinear halo orbit , NASA emphasized, to test its stability ahead of Gateway's arrival in a few years. Advanced Space did several spacecraft tests and ground simulations ahead of attempting the recovery, the company said in its own CAPSTONEon Friday. The company added it is committed to helping the spacecraft along for"upcoming critical events" and to troubleshoot the valve closure"to further reduce the risk of future propulsive operations."
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