Launch Detail
Pulling launch timing, vehicle context, weather signals, and mission evidence.
Launch detail
Rocket Lab • Electron • Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1B (NA)
Rocket Lab • Electron • LC-1B
CAPSTONE (Cislunar Autonomous Positioning System Technology Operations and Navigation Experiment) is a 12-U cubesat mission to test operations in near rectiliniar halo orbit around the Moon, which is to be used for the Lunar Gateway space station. Mission will verify the near rectilinear halo orbit characteristics, spacecraft-to-spacecraft navigation services in that orbit, and provide valuable experience of small sat launch to the Moon.
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Open the launch pad in Google Maps satellite mode using the pad coordinates.
CAPSTONE (Cislunar Autonomous Positioning System Technology Operations and Navigation Experiment) is a 12-U cubesat mission to test operations in near rectiliniar halo orbit around the Moon, which is to be used for the Lunar Gateway space station. Mission will verify the near rectilinear halo orbit characteristics, spacecraft-to-spacecraft navigation services in that orbit, and provide valuable experience of small sat launch to the Moon.
Electron is a two-stage orbital expendable launch vehicle (with an optional third stage) developed by the American aerospace company Rocket Lab. Electron is a small-lift launch vehicle designed to launch small satellites and cubesats to sun-synchronous orbit and low earth orbit. The Electron is the first orbital class rocket to use electric-pump-fed engines, powered by the 9 Rutherford engines on the first stage. It is also used as a suborbital testbed (called HASTE) for hypersonics research.
Rocket Lab is an American aerospace manufacturer with a wholly owned New Zealand subsidiary. The company develops lightweight, cost-effective commercial rocket launch services. The Electron Program was founded on the premise that small payloads such as CubeSats require dedicated small launch vehicles and flexibility not currently offered by traditional rocket systems. Its rocket, the Electron, is a light-weight rocket and is now operating commercially. The company is also producing a variety of spacecrafts and spacecrafts components.
Provider, rocket, pad, and booster history tied to this launch.
e198a73614ec809e030811836d82bf7acb51fd8ab1c8db077356f50e3dc39471Linked via Spaceflight News API (SNAPI).
Article"In the end of the day, NASA has to capture the public's imagination."
ArticleNASA's CAPSTONE spacecraft is testing software for autonomous operations in cislunar orbit to pave the way for Gateway.
ArticleA year after its launch, a privately owned, NASA-funded cubesat orbiting the moon continues to work well, providing data to support the agency’s Artemis luna...
ArticleNASA's CAPSTONE spacecraft has completed final maneuvers to place it in its target orbit around the Moon, refining its path in the orbit it arrived to last w...
Article"That is a huge, huge step for the agency."
ArticleA NASA-funded cubesat successfully completed a maneuver to enter orbit around the moon Nov. 13.
Launch-stage and landing context surfaced from LL2 when it exists.
Booster used during the NASA Capstone mission. Booster features the NASA Worm logo and was flown without onboard cameras to save weight.