The satellite will create a new path to the moon as part of NASA’s historic Artemis program
Terran Orbital Corporation (NYSE: LLAP), a world leader in satellite solutions primarily serving the United States and the Allied aerospace and defense industries, today announced the successful launch of the CAPSTONE satellite. Terran Orbital designed and built the Cislunar Autonomous Positioning System Technology Operations and Navigation Experiment, also known as CAPSTONE, launched this morning at 9:55 UTC / 5:55 AM EDT / 2:55 AM PDT aboard the Rocket Lab Moon Photon Bus ‘on an Electron launch vehicle from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in Mahia, New Zealand. CAPSTONE is owned and operated by Advanced Space on behalf of NASA.
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Rocket Lab Electron’s second stage drives Photon & CAPSTONE in its first parking orbit (Credit: Rocket Lab)
CAPSTONE is a lunar orbiter that reduces the risk to future spacecraft by checking the orbit dynamics planned for NASA & CloseCurlyQuote’s Gateway space station. As a guide, CAPSTONE is the first satellite to demonstrate near-linear halo orbit (NRHO) operations around the moon. Until now, this demonstration would be impossible for a 12U form factor like CAPSTONE – but a radio tower antenna combined with a low-energy “ballistic lunar transfer” expands the capabilities and range of the & CloseCurlyQuote satellite. The mission is also creating an infrastructure that reduces the reliance of communications on Earth-based fixed tracking assets for navigation and operations support, a technology that will be crucial as space becomes increasingly congested.
“Terran Orbital would like to thank Rocket Lab for a perfect launch,” said Mark Bell, co-founder, chairman and CEO of Terran Orbital. “We would also like to thank NASA and Advanced Space for giving us the opportunity to be part of this mission. The path that CAPSTONE makes to the moon will be used by countless future generations. Terran Orbital is proud to have designed, built and integrated the spacecraft for this historic trail search mission, and we look forward to carrying out operations throughout CAPSTONE & CloseCurlyQuote’s journey. ”
The Terran Orbital Mission’s operational team is currently preparing for the deployment and initial acquisition of the CAPSTONE spacecraft. In the final days between launch and deployment in the lunar insertion trajectory, Terran’s orbital mission operators will complete final rehearsals, practice commissioning scenarios, and set up accurate fault detection and response scenarios.
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About Terran Orbital
Terran Orbital is a leading manufacturer of small satellites, primarily serving the United States and the Allied aerospace and defense industries. Terran Orbital provides end-to-end satellite solutions, combining satellite design, manufacturing, launch planning, mission operations and in-orbit maintenance to meet the needs of the most demanding military, civilian and commercial customers. Learn more at www.terranorbital.com.
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