The Cislunar Autonomous Positioning System Technology Operations and Navigation Experiment, or CAPSTONE, is a CubeSat that will fly a special orbit around the Moon intended for NASAs future Artemis lunar outpost Gateway. CAPSTONE exposed in lunar Sunrise: CAPSTONE will fly in cislunar space– the orbital area near and around the Moon. CAPSTONE– short for Cislunar Autonomous Positioning System Technology Operations and Navigation Experiment– is owned by Advanced Space on behalf of NASA.
The Cislunar Autonomous Positioning System Technology Operations and Navigation Experiment, or CAPSTONE, is a CubeSat that will fly an unique orbit around the Moon planned for NASAs future Artemis lunar station Gateway. Its six-month objective will assist release a new period of deep space expedition. Credit: NASA Ames Research
On Thursday, October 27, CAPSTONE effectively finished a trajectory correction maneuver, teeing up the spacecrafts arrival to lunar orbit on November 13.
CAPSTONE is no longer in safe mode following a problem in early September that caused the spacecraft to spin. This includes the 2 staying trajectory correction maneuvers scheduled prior to CAPSTONEs arrival to orbit at the Moon.
CAPSTONE revealed in lunar Sunrise: CAPSTONE will fly in cislunar area– the orbital space near and around the Moon. The objective will demonstrate an innovative spacecraft-to-spacecraft navigation solution at the Moon from a near rectilinear halo orbit slated for Artemis Gateway. Credit: Illustration by NASA/Daniel Rutter
Following its launch on June 28, CAPSTONE orbited Earth connected to Rocket Labs Photon upper phase, which steered it into position for its journey to the Moon. CAPSTONEs successful implementation and start of commissioning took place on July 4. On July 7, NASAs CAPSTONE effectively finished its very first trajectory correction maneuver.
By NASA
November 1, 2022
CAPSTONE– brief for Cislunar Autonomous Positioning System Technology Operations and Navigation Experiment– is owned by Advanced Space on behalf of NASA. The spacecraft was designed and developed by Terran Orbital. Operations are performed collectively by groups at Advanced Space and Terran Orbital.