Cislunar Autonomous Positioning System Technology Operations and Navigation Experiment
Future Mission
NASA’s CAPSTONE 02 mission will demonstrate rendezvous and proximity operations, autonomous navigation, and cislunar communication capabilities while continuing to characterize the radiation environment at the Moon. Short for Cislunar Autonomous Positioning System Technology Operations and Navigation Experiment, CAPSTONE 02 will use two small spacecraft in lunar orbit to facilitate these demonstrations that will support NASA’s Moon Base, humanity’s first outpost on the lunar surface.
Mission Type
Small Spacecraft
Led BY
Small Spacecraft & Distributed Systems
Status
In Development
Destination
Lunar Orbit
Learn More
CAPSTONE 01
CAPSTONE, a 12U CubeSat, is the first spacecraft to operate in a near rectilinear halo orbit around the Moon. The mission validated communications, networking, and autonomous navigation capabilities, including using peer-to-peer ranging with NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter.
Moon Base
The Moon Base is humanity’s first lunar outpost, a place where astronauts will live, work, and explore near the Moon’s South Pole.