A microwave-sized satellite broke loose from Earth's orbit on Monday and is bound toward the moon, the next stage in NASA's goal to return men to the moon.
Capstone's path has been unique. Rocket Lab's Electron rocket launched it six days ago from New Zealand's Mahia Peninsula.
"It'll take time to sink in. It took two to two-and-a-half years to complete and was really challenging, he claimed.
"Seeing it all come together tonight and the spaceship on its journey to the moon is fantastic."
Beck said the mission's $32.7 million cost represented a new era in space exploration