The CAPSTONE mission is prepared for launch no earlier than May 2022. Rocket Labs Photon satellite bus will deliver CAPSTONE into a trajectory toward the Moon. Credit: Illustration by NASA/Daniel Rutter
A small CubeSat, about the size of a microwave oven and weighing just 55 pounds (25 kg), will function as the first spacecraft to evaluate a special, elliptical lunar orbit as part of the Cislunar Autonomous Positioning System Technology Operations and Navigation Experiment (CAPSTONE). As a pathfinder for Gateway, a Moon-orbiting station that becomes part of NASAs Artemis program, CAPSTONE will help in reducing the risk for future spacecraft by confirming ingenious navigation innovations and validating the dynamics of this halo-shaped orbit.
The orbit, officially called a near rectilinear halo orbit (NRHO), is considerably lengthened. Its area at an accurate balance point in the gravitational pulls of Earth and the Moon, offers stability for long-term objectives like Gateway and requires very little energy to keep. CAPSTONEs orbit likewise establishes a location that is an ideal staging area for objectives to the Moon and beyond. The orbit will bring CAPSTONE within 1,000 miles (1,600 km) of one lunar pole on its near pass and 43,500 miles (70,000 km) from the other pole at its peak every seven days, requiring less propulsion capability for spacecraft flying to and from the Moons surface area than other circular orbits.
CAPSTONE exposed in lunar Sunrise: CAPSTONE will fly in cislunar space– the orbital space near and around the Moon. The mission will demonstrate an ingenious spacecraft-to-spacecraft navigation solution at the Moon from a near rectilinear halo orbit slated for Artemis Gateway. Credit: Illustration by NASA/Daniel Rutter
After a three-month journey to its target location, CAPSTONE will orbit this location around the Moon for at least 6 months to comprehend the attributes of the orbit. Specifically, it will verify the power and propulsion requirements for maintaining its orbit as forecasted by NASAs designs, minimizing logistical uncertainties.
To test these brand-new navigation abilities, CAPSTONE has a 2nd devoted payload flight computer and radio that will carry out estimations to figure out where the CubeSat is in its orbital path. Circling around the Moon considering that 2009, NASAs Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) will function as a recommendation point for CAPSTONE. The intention is for CAPSTONE to interact straight with LRO and make use of the information acquired from this crosslink to measure how far it is from LRO and how quick the range in between the 2 modifications, which in turn figures out CAPSTONEs position in space.
CAPSTONE in orbit near the Moon: Once launched from Rocket Labs Photon satellite bus, CAPSTONE will use its propulsion system to take a trip for around 3 months prior to participating in orbit around the Moon. Credit: Illustration by NASA/Daniel Rutter
This peer-to-peer details will be used to assess CAPSTONEs autonomous navigation software application. If successful, this software, referred to as the Cislunar Autonomous Positioning System (CAPS), will allow future spacecraft to identify their place without having to rely specifically on tracking from Earth. This ability might enable future technology demonstrations to carry out on their own without support from the ground and permit ground-based antennas to focus on valuable science data over more routine functional tracking.
CAPSTONE is arranged to release no earlier than May 2022 aboard a Rocket Labs Electron rocket from the companys Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand. With an extremely ambitious schedule, CAPSTONE will demonstrate essential commercial capabilities. NASA partners will check innovative tools for mission planning and operations, paving the method and broadening chances for small and more cost effective area and exploration objectives to the Moon, Mars and other destinations throughout the planetary system.
CAPSTONE over the lunar North Pole: After arrival at the Moon, CAPSTONE will start its 6-month-long primary objective. The objective will confirm a near rectilinear halo orbits qualities by demonstrating how to participate in and operate in the orbit. Credit: Illustration by NASA/Daniel Rutter
Mission objectives:
Verify the attributes of a cis-lunar near rectilinear halo orbit for future spacecraft
Show entering and keeping this distinct orbit that offers a highly-efficient course to the Moons surface and back
Show spacecraft-to-spacecraft navigation services that allow future spacecraft to identify their area relative to the Moon without relying solely on tracking from Earth
Lay a foundation for industrial assistance of future lunar operations
Gain experience with little dedicated launches of CubeSats beyond low-Earth orbit, to the Moon, and beyond
Partners:
The orbit will bring CAPSTONE within 1,000 miles (1,600 km) of one lunar pole on its near pass and 43,500 miles (70,000 km) from the other pole at its peak every seven days, requiring less propulsion ability for spacecraft flying to and from the Moons surface area than other circular orbits.
CAPSTONE revealed in lunar Sunrise: CAPSTONE will fly in cislunar area– the orbital space near and around the Moon. After a three-month journey to its target location, CAPSTONE will orbit this area around the Moon for at least 6 months to comprehend the characteristics of the orbit. The objective is for CAPSTONE to communicate straight with LRO and make use of the data acquired from this crosslink to measure how far it is from LRO and how fast the distance between the two changes, which in turn figures out CAPSTONEs position in area.
CAPSTONE over the lunar North Pole: After arrival at the Moon, CAPSTONE will begin its 6-month-long primary mission.
Advanced Space of Westminster, Colorado, is developing and operating CAPSTONE.
Tyvak Nano-Satellite Systems, a Terran Orbital Corporation, of Irvine, California, is constructing the CubeSat platform.
Stellar Exploration, Inc. of San Luis Obispo, California, is offering CAPSTONEs propulsion system.
Rocket Lab of Long Beach, California, is supplying launch services. The launch is managed by NASAs Launch Services Program at NASAs Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
NASAs Small Spacecraft Technology program within the companys Space Technology Mission Directorate is managing the CAPSTONE job. The program is based at NASAs Ames Research Center in Californias Silicon Valley.
NASAs Advanced Exploration Systems within the agencys Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate is moneying the launch and supporting objective operations.
The development of CAPS is supported by NASAs Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program.
NASAs Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, manages LRO.