description CAPSTONE Overview
CAPSTONE, short for Cislunar Autonomous Positioning System Technology Operations and Navigation Experiment, was a NASA-funded CubeSat mission launched on June 28, 2022. The spacecraft was designed to operate in a near-rectilinear halo orbit around the Moon, the orbit planned for NASA's Gateway, and to characterize its operational requirements. CAPSTONE also tested autonomous navigation and communications concepts relevant to future lunar missions. NASA's official mission page records lunar-orbit insertion on November 13, 2022.
help CAPSTONE FAQ
What does CAPSTONE stand for?
CAPSTONE stands for Cislunar Autonomous Positioning System Technology Operations and Navigation Experiment. It is a NASA-funded CubeSat mission focused on lunar-orbit navigation and operations.
When did the CAPSTONE spacecraft launch?
CAPSTONE launched on June 28, 2022. The mission was designed to test operations in the cislunar environment around the Moon.
What orbit was CAPSTONE designed to use?
The spacecraft was designed to operate in a near-rectilinear halo orbit around the Moon. This is the type of orbit planned for NASA's future Gateway lunar station.
Why was CAPSTONE important for future lunar missions?
It was intended to demonstrate navigation and operations in a near-rectilinear halo orbit. That work supports planning for sustained activity around the Moon, including the Gateway program.
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