Navigation Technology Successfully Tested by CAPSTONE

CAPSTONE successfully tested a navigation technology akin to Earth’s GPS for the first time in May, advancing a capability that could help future space missions more efficiently navigate at the Moon. The spacecraft also captured its first images of the Moon, showing the lunar surface near the Moon's North Pole as CAPSTONE made a close approach to the Moon on May 3.

CAPSTONE, short for Cislunar Autonomous Positioning System Technology Operations and Navigation Experiment, is a microwave oven-sized CubeSat flying a unique, elliptical orbit at the Moon that will be used by Gateway. The test of the mission's CAPS navigation technology involved two spacecraft: CAPSTONE and NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO). During the May 9 experiment, CAPSTONE sent a signal to LRO designed to measure the distance and relative velocity between the two spacecraft. LRO then returned the signal to CAPSTONE, where it was converted into a measurement. The test proved the ability to collect measurements that will be utilized by CAPS software to determine the positioning of both spacecraft. This capability could provide autonomous onboard navigation information for future lunar missions.

In addition to the successful CAPS test, CAPSTONE achieved another mission objective to fly the near-rectilinear halo orbit for at least six months. This marks the end of the spacecraft's primary mission. Going forward CAPSTONE will continue in that orbit, testing onboard technologies for up to a year during its enhanced mission phase.

Lunar Navigation Technology Supported by Small Business

Multiple partner businesses contribute to the CAPSTONE Moon mission with support from NASA’s small business programs. Many of those partners got their start with support from NASA. The CAPS software for the mission was developed by Advanced Space through NASA’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program. CAPS navigation technology will allow future spacecraft to determine their location without having to rely exclusively on tracking from Earth, allowing them to perform on their own without needing as much support from the ground.

Advanced Space’s work on CAPSTONE was supported by a NASA SBIR Phase III contract funded by NASA’s Small Spacecraft Technology Program. The company has also received support for other initiatives through NASA SBIR’s sister program, Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR). Many of the other partners on CAPSTONE are alums of NASA’s SBIR/STTR program as well. When CAPSTONE launches, it will demonstrate the advantages of NASA’s investments in small business collaborations and represent a starting point for the next stage of lunar exploration.

(Source: NASA news release. Images provided and from file)