
In 2021, NASAās Cislunar Autonomous Positioning System Technology Operations and Navigation Experiment, orĀ CAPSTONE, CubeSat will launch to a never-before-used cislunar orbit near the Moon.
As a pathfinder forĀ Gateway, a Moon-orbiting outpost that is part of NASAāsĀ ArtemisĀ program, CAPSTONE will help reduce the risk for future spacecraft by verifying the dynamics of a unique halo-shaped orbit. The mission will also demonstrate innovative spacecraft-to-spacecraft navigation technology and communications capabilities with Earth.
CAPSTONEās journey to the Moon will take about three months, starting with its launch to low-Earth orbit on a Rocket Lab Electron. Rocket LabāsĀ Photon spacecraftĀ will take over next and conduct a series of orbit-raising maneuvers to prepare the CubeSat for its transfer path to the Moon. After separating from Photon, CAPSTONE will utilize an energy-efficient ballistic lunar transfer using its onboard propulsion system and enter into a near rectilinear halo orbit in the vicinity of and around the Moon. There, it will maintain the orbit to inform future spacecraft and demonstrate new technologies.
CAPSTONEās propulsion system is designed and built by Stellar Exploration Inc. of San Luis Obispo, California. Initially funded by NASAāsĀ Small Business Innovation ResearchĀ program, the system is approximately 8-inches square by 4-inches deep. The systemās eight thrusters are fed hydrazine propellant from an unpressurized tank. CAPSTONEās super small, high-performance thrusters integrate proven NASA technology with state-of-the-art industry fabrication techniques.
CAPSTONE is led by Advanced Space of Westminster, Colorado. Tyvak Nano-Satellite Systems of Irvine, California, is building the microwave oven-sized CubeSat platform. NASAās Small Spacecraft Technology programĀ within the agencyās Space Technology Mission Directorate funds the demonstration mission. The program is based at NASAās Ames Research Center in Californiaās Silicon Valley. The Launch Services Program at NASAās Kennedy Space Center in Florida manages the launch service.
Rod is a blogger, writer, filmmaker, photographer, daydreamer who likes to cook. Rod produces and directs the web series, CUPIC: Diary of an Investigator. He is also the editor, producer and administrator of TNC Network.