Advanced Space has successfully completed the primary six-month mission of its commercial satellite, CAPSTONE, which has been operating in the Near Rectilinear Halo Orbit (NRHO) that will be utilized by the Gateway lunar space station. The enhanced mission phase will continue to focus on demonstrating lunar operations and navigation technology, with plans to extend the spacecraft’s time in the NRHO up to 12 months. During the primary mission, CAPSTONE completed 28 orbits and seven maneuvers while enduring six lunar eclipses with a maximum duration of 74.32 minutes. The spacecraft also tested a fuel-efficient trajectory to reach NRHO and helped NASA test future communication and navigation technologies for operating on or in the vicinity of the Moon. CAPSTONE tested navigation technology akin to Earth’s global positioning system (GPS), called Cislunar Autonomous Positioning System (CAPS), which provides autonomous onboard navigation. The spacecraft will continue to demonstrate critical technologies that will support future missions to the Moon. The CAPSTONE spacecraft is equipped with an imager, which was included to support technology demonstration as well as public awareness objectives. Three in-flight imager tests have been conducted, all taking place after the start of the primary mission.
