Session
Weekday Session 1: Year in Review
Location
Utah State University, Logan, UT
Abstract
NASA, Advanced Space, Terran Orbital, Rocket Lab, Stellar Exploration, JPL, the Space Dynamics Lab, and Tethers Unlimited have partnered to successfully develop, launch, and operate the Cislunar Autonomous Positioning System Technology Operations and Navigation Experiment (CAPSTONE) mission, which is serving as a pathfinder for Near Rectilinear Halo Orbit (NHRO) operations around the Moon. This low-cost, high-value mission has demonstrated an efficient, low-energy orbital transfer to the Moon and a successful insertion into the Near Rectilinear Halo Orbit (NRHO), the intended orbit for NASA's Gateway lunar orbital platform. The mission is now demonstrating operations within the NRHO that ultimately will serve to reduce risk and validate key exploration operations and technologies required for the future success of NASA's lunar exploration plans, including the planned human return to the lunar surface. Over the next 9+ months, CAPSTONE will continue to validate these key operations and navigation technologies required for the success of NASA's lunar exploration plans. This paper will include an overview of the current mission status, lessons learned from the launch, transfer, and insertion into the NRHO, a summary of the challenges encountered thus far, and an overview of the successful mission operations technology demonstrations thus far.
CAPSTONE: A Summary of a Highly Successful Mission in the Cislunar Environment
Utah State University, Logan, UT
NASA, Advanced Space, Terran Orbital, Rocket Lab, Stellar Exploration, JPL, the Space Dynamics Lab, and Tethers Unlimited have partnered to successfully develop, launch, and operate the Cislunar Autonomous Positioning System Technology Operations and Navigation Experiment (CAPSTONE) mission, which is serving as a pathfinder for Near Rectilinear Halo Orbit (NHRO) operations around the Moon. This low-cost, high-value mission has demonstrated an efficient, low-energy orbital transfer to the Moon and a successful insertion into the Near Rectilinear Halo Orbit (NRHO), the intended orbit for NASA's Gateway lunar orbital platform. The mission is now demonstrating operations within the NRHO that ultimately will serve to reduce risk and validate key exploration operations and technologies required for the future success of NASA's lunar exploration plans, including the planned human return to the lunar surface. Over the next 9+ months, CAPSTONE will continue to validate these key operations and navigation technologies required for the success of NASA's lunar exploration plans. This paper will include an overview of the current mission status, lessons learned from the launch, transfer, and insertion into the NRHO, a summary of the challenges encountered thus far, and an overview of the successful mission operations technology demonstrations thus far.
