NASA hires Terran Orbital and Advanced Space to build and fly Capstone-2
Duel Capstone-2 orbiters. Click for original.
Capitalism in space: NASA yesterday announced it has hired Advanced Space, the company that acted as mission control for the Capstone-1 lunar orbiter (built by Terran Orbital), to be the lead for the Capstone-2 mission, sending two small probes (to once again be built by Terran Orbital) to lunar orbit to test formation flying.
The demonstration will fly two identical spacecraft of approximately 400 kilograms (882 pounds) from Terran Orbital Systems, Inc. Mission operators will conduct a series of rendezvous and proximity operations and loitering – or formation flying – techniques in lunar orbit with each spacecraft to better understand the trajectories of the spacecraft under the simultaneous influence of Earth and Moon gravities, otherwise known as three-body orbits.
The launch its targeting 2027, though when that year is not stated. The CAPSTONE 02 mission will use ground tracking measurements, optical sensors, and celestial bodies to help one spacecraft locate and rendezvous with another. The mission will apply navigation strategies similar to those planned for Orion’s approach to a lunar lander in deep space, helping NASA build confidence in these techniques for future exploration. Each CAPSTONE 02 spacecraft will have the ability to switch between ‘chaser’ and ‘target’ roles, testing a broad range of operational scenarios under a variety of environmental conditions in cislunar space.
Note that this entire mission will be built, launched, and operated by private companies. NASA’s only job is outlining the technical knowledge it wishes to learn for future manned missions. Terran Orbital and Advanced Space will then provide it.
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