Satellite charts new path to Moon as part of NASA’s groundbreaking Artemis program
Terran Orbital Corporation (NYSE: LLAP), a global leader in satellite solutions primarily serving the United States and allied aerospace and defense industries, today announced the successful deployment of Rocket Lab’s Lunar Photon CAPSTONE spacecraft into lunar transfer orbit. The Terran Orbital designed, built and integrated Cislunar Autonomous Positioning System Technology Operations and Navigation Experiment, also known as CAPSTONE, is performing a path discovery mission to the Moon in support of NASA’s historic Artemis program. Upon completion of deployment, Terran Orbital will begin mission operations on the satellite’. CAPSTONE is owned and operated by Advanced Space on behalf of NASA.
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CAPSTONE approaches a nearly rectilinear halo orbit Terran Orbital Corporation
As a Gateway Lunar Orbit Outpost built by NASA’s commercial and international partners, CAPSTONE will help reduce risk for future spacecraft by verifying the dynamics of a unique lunar orbit and validate innovative navigation technologies. CAPSTONE is the first satellite to demonstrate Near Rectilinear Halo Orbit (NRHO) operations around the Moon. This demonstration would normally be impossible for a 12U form factor like CAPSTONE, roughly the size of a microwave oven, but a radio tower antenna combined with a low-energy “ballistic lunar transfer” extend the satellite’s capabilities and range.
CAPSTONE’s deployment follows six days of high-orbit burns around Earth aboard Rocket Lab’s Lunar Photon spacecraft bus&CloseCurlyQuote, following the launch of an Electron launch vehicle from Rocket Lab’s Launch Complex 1 in Mahia, New Zealand. The CAPSTONE spacecraft is deployed by the Terran Orbital 12U Spacecraft Deployer. Post-deployment CAPSTONE activities include powering up the spacecraft, autonomously obtaining position control, and preparing for first contact with an Earth-based communications station. In the coming days, the Terran Orbital Mission Operations team, operating from their Mission Operations Center in Irvine, California, will communicate and perform commissioning of the CAPSTONE spacecraft in close partnership with the Advanced Space Navigation and Payload teams, as well as NASA&CloseCurlyQuote ;s Deep Space Network.
CAPSTONE will continue a fuel-saving ballistic lunar transfer, traveling up to 1.5 million kilometers from Earth before returning closer to Earth and the Moon for the spacecraft’s NRHO propulsive insertion maneuver&CloseCurlyQuote. NRHO Insertion and all other propulsive maneuvers during CAPSTONE’s lunar transfer journey, performed by Terran Orbital’s Operations team, are made possible by the Stellar Exploration hydrazine propulsion system of a maneuverable design from Advanced Space. This journey will take approximately four months, with the NRHO currently expected to arrive on November 13.
“Terran Orbital develops satellites that both solve today’s problems ‘while creating solutions for tomorrow,'” said Terran Orbital Co-Founder, Chairman and CEO Mark Bell. “CAPSTONE is a true pathfinder mission that will illuminate and refine key technologies as we enter this new generation of space. Terran Orbital is proud to have been able to realize CAPSTONE alongside NASA, Rocket Lab and Advanced Space – and we look forward to continuing to work with our partners in the space and defense industries as Terran Orbital designs, builds, integrates and operates life-changing of the satellites.”
“With the capabilities demonstrated by all of our industry partners, this mission is a ‘culminating’ achievement for small launches and small spacecraft,” said Justin Treptow, deputy executive director of NASA’s Small Spacecraft Technology Program at NASA Headquarters in Washington. “Supporting Artemis and demonstrating navigation solutions in cis-lunar space really demonstrates the utility and agility of small, highly capable teams of industry partners.”
“The separation of the CAPSTONE&CloseCurlyQuote spacecraft with the CubeSat on its way to the Moon is an incredible industry-shaping event in space exploration,” said Advanced Space CEO and CAPSTONE Principal Investigator Bradley Cheetham. “It’s only fitting that we be on Independence Day. Congratulations to all our partners and people behind CAPSTONE. Advanced Space is honored to lead this historic mission for NASA. We are just getting started in the sustainable exploration, development and settlement of space.”
“Going to the Moon is a team effort, and we couldn’t have asked for better mission partners for CAPSTONE,” said Rocket Lab Founder and CEO Peter Beck. “With the launch phase of the mission now complete, we wish Advanced Space, Terran Orbital and NASA the best of luck with the rest of this groundbreaking mission.”
Visit NASA.gov/capstone and www.terranorbital.com/capstone for complete mission information.
For real-time updates on the CAPSTONE mission, follow Terran Orbital, NASA, Rocket Lab and Advanced Space on Twitter.
@TerranOrbital @NASA @NASAAmes @AdvancedSpace @RocketLab
About Terran Orbital
Terran Orbital is a leading manufacturer of small satellites primarily serving the United States and allied aerospace and defense industries. Terran Orbital provides complete satellite solutions by combining satellite design, manufacturing, launch planning, mission operations and on-orbit maintenance to meet the needs of the most demanding military, civil and commercial customers. Learn more at www.terranorbital.com.
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