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 the CAPSTONE spacecraft from a Rocket Lab Lunar Photon to a lunar transfer orbit . Terran Orbital designed, built and integrated the Cislunar Autonomous Tracking System Technology Operations and Navigation Experiment, otherwise known as CAPSTONE, is performing a pathfinding mission on the moon in support of NASA’s historic Artemis program&CloseCurlyQuote. With development complete, Terran Orbital will now begin satellite missions’ CAPSTONE is owned and operated by Advanced Space on behalf of NASA.
This press release contains multimedia. See the full version here: CAPSTONE approaches a nearly straight halo orbit (Credit: Terran Orbital Corporation) As a path finder for a Gateway outpost in lunar orbit built by NASA&CloseCurlyQuote 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 the operations of a near rectilinear halo orbit (NRHO) around the Moon. This demonstration would normally be impossible for a 12U form factor like CAPSTONE, about the size of a microwave oven, but a radio tower antenna combined with a low-energy ‘ballistic lunar transfer’ extend the satellite’s capability and range. The CAPSTONE&CloseCurlyQuote development follows six days of Earth-orbiting burns aboard the Rocket Lab&CloseCurlyQuote space shuttle, following launch on an electron launch vehicle from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in Mahia, New Zealand. The CAPSTONE spacecraft was deployed from a Terran Orbital 12U Spacecraft Deployer. Post-deployment activities for CAPSTONE include spacecraft activation, autonomous acquisition of attitude control, and preparation for first contact with a communications station on Earth. Over the next few days, the Terran Orbital Mission Operations team, operating from the Mission Operations Center in Irvine, California, will communicate with and commission the CAPSTONE spacecraft in close cooperation with the Advanced Space Navigation and Payload Operation teams as well as NASA&CloseCurlyQuote ;s Deep Space Network. CAPSTONE will continue a fuel-saving ballistic lunar transport, traveling up to 1.5 million kilometers from Earth, before returning closer to Earth and the Moon for the spacecraft’s NRHO insertion propulsion maneuver. NRHO Insertion and all other propulsion maneuvers on CAPSTONE&CloseCurlyQuote’s lunar transfer journey, performed by Terran Orbital&CloseCurlyQuote’s Mission Operations team, are powered by a Stellar Exploration hydrazine propulsion system, with maneuver design by Advanced Space. This journey will take approximately four months with the arrival of the NRHO currently expected for November 13th. “Terran Orbital develops satellites that simultaneously solve today’s problems while creating tomorrow’s solutions,” said Terran Orbital co-founder, president and CEO Marc Bell. “CAPSTONE is a true pathfinder mission that will illuminate and improve critical technologies as we enter this new generation of Space. Terran Orbital is proud to have brought CAPSTONE to fruition alongside NASA, Rocket Lab and Advanced Space – and we look forward to continuing to work with our partners across the aerospace and defense industry as Terran Orbital designs, builds, integrates and it works life- changing satellites.” “With the capabilities demonstrated by all of our industry partners, this mission is a ‘decision’ achievement for small launches and small spacecraft,” said Justin Treptow, Associate Program Executive for NASA’s Small Spacecraft Technology Program at NASA Headquarters NASA in Washington. “Artemis’ support and demonstration of navigation solutions in the cis-lunar degradation space really demonstrates the utility and speed of small, highly capable teams of industry partners.” “The separation of CAPSTONE&CloseCurlyQuote’s spacecraft with a 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 I be on Independence Day. Congratulations to all partners and people behind CAPSTONE. Advanced Space is honored to lead this historic mission for NASA. We have only just begun, in the sustainable exploration, development and settlement of space.” “Going to the Moon is a team effort, and we couldn’t ask for better mission partners for CAPSTONE,” said Rocket Lab founder and CEO Peter Beck. “With the launch phase of the mission complete, we wish Advanced Space, Terran Orbital and NASA every success in the remainder of this ground-breaking 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 the 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 combining design, production, launch planning, mission operations and on-orbit support to meet the needs of the most demanding military, civilian and commercial customers. Learn more at www.terranorbital.com. See the original version on businesswire.com:
