Terran Orbital Developed CAPSTONE Heads to the Moon
June 28 2022 - 6:40PM
Business Wire
The satellite will create a new path to
the Moon as part of NASA’s historic 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
launch of the CAPSTONE satellite. The Terran Orbital designed and
built Cislunar Autonomous Positioning System Technology Operations
and Navigation Experiment, otherwise known as CAPSTONE, launched
this morning at 9:55 UTC / 5:55 a.m. EDT / 2:55 a.m. PDT aboard
Rocket Lab’s Lunar Photon spacecraft bus on an Electron launch
vehicle from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in Māhia, New Zealand.
CAPSTONE is owned and operated by Advanced Space on behalf of
NASA.
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the full release here:
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Rocket Lab Electron's second stage
propels Photon & CAPSTONE into its first parking orbit (Credit:
Rocket Lab)
CAPSTONE is a lunar orbiter reducing the risk for future
spacecraft by verifying the dynamics of the orbit planned for
NASA’s Gateway space station. As a pathfinder, CAPSTONE is the
first satellite to demonstrate operations of a Near Rectilinear
Halo Orbit (NRHO) around the Moon. Until now this demonstration
would be impossible for a 12U form factor such as CAPSTONE – but a
radio tower antenna combined with a low-energy “ballistic lunar
transfer” broadens the satellite’s capability and reach. The
mission also creates infrastructure reducing the reliance on
communications from Earth-based fixed tracking assets for
navigation and operations support – technology that will be
critical as space becomes more congested.
“Terran Orbital would like to thank Rocket Lab for a perfect
launch,” said Terran Orbital Co-Founder, Chairman, and Chief
Executive Officer Marc Bell. “We would also like to thank NASA and
Advanced Space for giving us the opportunity to be part of this
mission. The path CAPSTONE is paving to the moon will be used by
countless future generations. Terran Orbital is proud to have
designed, built, and integrated the spacecraft for this historic
pathfinding mission and we look forward to running operations
throughout CAPSTONE’s journey.”
The Terran Orbital Mission Operations Team is currently
preparing for the deployment and initial acquisition of the
CAPSTONE spacecraft. In the final days between launch and
deployment into the lunar insertion trajectory, the Terran Orbital
Mission Operators will complete final rehearsals, practice
commissioning scenarios, and fine-tune fault detection and response
scenarios.
Click here to watch a replay of the launch.
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 end-to-end satellite
solutions by combining satellite design, production, launch
planning, mission operations, and in-orbit support to meet the
needs of the most demanding military, civil, and commercial
customers. Learn more at www.terranorbital.com.
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version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220628006176/en/
Virginia Norder pr@terranorbital.com 949-508-6404
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