The designed and built Terran Orbital satellite flies on a path to the moon in support of the historical program of NASA & CloseCurlyQuote Artemis
Terran Orbital Corporation (NYSE: LLAP), a world leader in satellite solutions serving primarily the United States and the Allied aerospace and defense industries, today announced the successful integration of the CAPSTONE spacecraft aboard the Rocket Lab Electron rocket. The designed and built satellite Terran Orbital is flying with a mission to find a way to the moon in support of NASA’s historic program & CloseCurlyQuote for Artemis. The Terran Orbital team produced CAPSTONE & CloseCurlyQuote hardware, assembled and tested the spacecraft, and integrated the satellite for its upcoming launch. Launch will take place from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 on the Mahia Peninsula of New Zealand at 10:00 a.m. UTC / 6:00 a.m. EDT / 3:00 p.m. PDT on June 27, 2022. CAPSTONE is owned and operated by Advanced Space on behalf of NASA.
This press release includes multimedia. See the full edition here:
CAPSTONE is fully integrated at the top of Photon (Image: Rocket Lab)
The Cislunar Autonomous Positioning System Technology Operations and Navigation Experiment (CAPSTONE) will be the first spacecraft to test an almost rectilinear halo orbit (NRHO) around the moon. CAPSTONE includes a radio tower on top, which expands in size from a traditional 12U form factor. Instead of following the typical direct path to the moon, CAPSTONE will follow a “ballistic lunar transfer” that will extend its range to 1.5 million kilometers before returning to lunar orbit – saving fuel and allowing the spacecraft to complete a mission that previously it was impossible for a spaceship the size of it.
“CAPSTONE is a huge achievement in the study of small spacecraft,” said Mark Bell, co-founder, chairman and CEO of Terran Orbital. “Working with NASA, Rocket Lab and Advanced Space was a privilege. Terran Orbital is proud to have built, designed and integrated the spacecraft for this historic mission, and we look forward to managing spacecraft operations throughout CAPSTONE & CloseCurlyQuote’s journey. ”
“CAPSTONE is a great example of how NASA and industry work together, making an ambitious study possible,” said Jim Reuters, associate administrator of NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate. “It’s incredibly exciting to see this innovative little satellite begin its journey to the moon.
“The CAPSTONE mission is a testament to the power of collaboration, technological innovation and perseverance,” said Bradley Cheatham, CEO of Advanced Space and CAPSTONE’s chief researcher. “The industry team and NASA have completed a mission that will enable the sustainable exploration, development and settlement of space. It was an honor for NASA to lead this historic mission. Our teams are focused on the next phase of the launch and ultimately the separation of the spacecraft in 6 days. From now on, our small spacecraft will fly to the moon on its own, leading the way for future missions. ”
“Going to the moon is a team effort and we have phenomenal partners in the mission at Terran Orbital, Advanced Space and NASA,” said Peter Beck, founder and CEO of Rocket Lab. “Together, we are bringing missions beyond low Earth orbit into range and paving a new path to the moon.”
The launch will be broadcast live approximately 45 minutes before takeoff at www.nasa.gov/live.
Visit NASA.gov/capstone and www.terranorbital.com/capstone for complete mission information.
For real-time updates on the CAPSTONE mission at launch, follow Terran Orbital, NASA, Rocket Lab and Advanced Space on Twitter.
@TerranOrbital @NASA @NASAAmes @RocketLab @AdvancedSpace
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.
See the original version of businesswire.com:
Add Comment