The Cislunar Autonomous Positioning System Technology Operations and Navigation Experiment (CAPSTONE) Mission is launching to the Moon in 2021. This mission is a rapid and low-cost small spacecraft pathfinder for the Artemis program; it will leverage a highly efficient transfer to the Moon; and will demonstrate our proprietary peer-to-peer navigation capability in the Cislunar Autonomous Positioning System (CAPS).
The Cislunar Autonomous Positioning System Technology Operations and Navigation Experiment (CAPSTONE) Mission is launching to the Moon in 2021. This mission is a rapid and low-cost small spacecraft pathfinder for the Artemis program, will leverage a highly efficient transfer to the Moon, and demonstrate our proprietary peer-to-peer navigation capability in the Cislunar Autonomous Positioning System (CAPS).
The Cislunar Autonomous Positioning System Technology Operations and Navigation Experiment (CAPSTONE) Mission is launching to the Moon in 2021. This mission is a rapid and low-cost small spacecraft pathfinder for the Artemis program, will leverage a highly efficient transfer to the Moon, and demonstrate our proprietary peer-to-peer navigation capability in the Cislunar Autonomous Positioning System (CAPS).
From Idea to Mission
Like many missions, CAPSTONE started with a question: what does a safe, sustainable future at the Moon look like? How do we bridge the gap between today and that future?
Advanced Space began to develop CAPS, and NASA continued to develop the Artemis program. These two paths led to common ground and resulted in the pursuit of a rapid technology demonstration that would provide invaluable experience for future efforts headed to the Moon.
From Idea to Mission
Like many missions, CAPSTONE started with a question: what does a safe, sustainable future at the Moon look like? How do we bridge the gap between today and that future?
Advanced Space began to develop CAPS, and NASA continued to develop the Artemis program. These two paths led to common ground and resulted in the pursuit of a rapid technology demonstration that would provide invaluable experience for future efforts headed to the Moon.
Advanced Space
Leading CAPSTONE from concept to end-of-life, this is different from most other missions where NASA is responsible for the spacecraft – here Advanced Space is the owner and operator of this satellite for the entirety of its mission. Our team designed the mission orbits, oversaw the design and manufacture of the hardware, and will be performing flight dynamics operations on-site in our Colorado offices.
NASA
CAPSTONE is supported by NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate through the Small Spacecraft Technology program and by the Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate through the Advanced Exploration Systems program. CAPS is supported by NASA’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program.
Key Partners
Tyvak Nano-Satellite Systems: Based in California, Tyvak has been the manufacturing partner in drafting and executing the hardware that will fly CAPSTONE. Along with machining the satellite bus, they will also be responsible for the assembly and testing of the subsystems that are going into the spacecraft.
Stellar Exploration, Inc: CAPSTONE’s propulsion system was designed, tested, and manufactured by Stellar Exploration, Inc. also located in California. Their system that will be used in the spacecraft was initially supported by NASA’s SBIR program just as the CAPS program was supported.
Rocket Lab: Providing the launch services for CAPSTONE, Rocket Lab will be flying the satellite on a dedicated Electron flight to put it on the path for the mission’s Ballistic Lunar Transfer that will send CAPSTONE towards the Moon to execute its insertion into the NRHO mission orbit.

Advanced Space
Leading CAPSTONE from concept to end-of-life, this is different from most other missions where NASA is responsible for the spacecraft – here Advanced Space is the owner and operator of this satellite for the entirety of its mission. Our team designed the mission orbits, oversaw the design and manufacture of the hardware, and will be performing flight dynamics operations on-site in our Colorado offices.
NASA
CAPSTONE is supported by NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate through the Small Spacecraft Technology program and by the Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate through the Advanced Exploration Systems program. CAPS is supported by NASA’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program.
Key Partners
Tyvak Nano-Satellite Systems: Based in California, Tyvak has been the manufacturing partner in drafting and executing the hardware that will fly CAPSTONE. Along with machining the satellite bus, they will also be responsible for the assembly and testing of the subsystems that are going into the spacecraft.
Stellar Exploration, Inc: CAPSTONE’s propulsion system was designed, tested, and manufactured by Stellar Exploration, Inc. also located in California. Their system that will be used in the spacecraft was initially supported by NASA’s SBIR program just as the CAPS program was supported.
Rocket Lab: Providing the launch services for CAPSTONE, Rocket Lab will be flying the satellite on a dedicated Electron flight to put it on the path for the mission’s Ballistic Lunar Transfer that will send CAPSTONE towards the Moon to execute its insertion into the NRHO mission orbit.

A Story in a Patch
The mission patch is a snapshot of CAPSTONE’s daily life at the Moon with details that thread its story through past, present, and future.
- The Past: Nodding to the Apollo patches of the past, the stars were one way of honoring those in the program who were lost but not forgotten. Our stars represent the late Dr. George Born and Darrell D. Cain, both of whom were foundational to Advanced Space’s technical expertise and core beliefs.
- The Present: The orbit that CAPSTONE will be traversing is integral to the Artemis program and by being the first craft to navigate this NRHO, CAPSTONE will provide the necessary experience to go beyond where we have already been. The extension of the orbit beyond the confines of the patch represents the pathfinder nature of the mission. The location markers on the spacecraft and above the Moon represent the the technology demonstration of CAPS.
- The Future: Just as the Artemis program describes the Moon as the pathway to Mars, we too see a future at Mars enabled by the technology demonstrated during the CAPSTONE mission. And so in the not-so-distant future we put Mars on the horizon for the next giant leap, as seen in the red point among the stars.
A Collaborative Effort
The Details
- The central A is the Artemis arrow tip
- The orbit is from the Advanced Space logo
- The inner red path points the future journey to Mars
- The Moon element references the Artemis program logo
- Pieces of the Artemis typography included in the CAPSTONE title, bringing it back to the intertwined nature of this mission and the Artemis program.

A Story in a Patch
The mission patch is a snapshot of CAPSTONE’s daily life at the Moon with details that thread its story through past, present, and future.
- The Past: Nodding to the Apollo patches of the past, the stars were one way of honoring those in the program who were lost but not forgotten. Our stars represent the late Dr. George Born and Darrell D. Cain, both of whom were foundational to Advanced Space’s technical expertise and core beliefs.
- The Present: The orbit that CAPSTONE will be traversing is integral to the Artemis program and by being the first craft to navigate this NRHO, CAPSTONE will provide the necessary experience to go beyond where we have already been. The extension of the orbit beyond the confines of the patch represents the pathfinder nature of the mission. The location markers on the spacecraft and above the Moon represent the the technology demonstration of CAPS.
- The Future: Just as the Artemis program describes the Moon as the pathway to Mars, we too see a future at Mars enabled by the technology demonstrated during the CAPSTONE mission. And so in the not-so-distant future we put Mars on the horizon for the next giant leap, as seen in the red point among the stars.
A Collaborative Effort
With this mission being a coordinated effort between commercial and public interests, we wanted a representation of that collaboration through the logo. The result is a harmonious joining of two brands into a singular idea.
The Details
- The central A is the Artemis arrow tip
- The orbit is from the Advanced Space logo
- The inner red path points the future journey to Mars
- The Moon element references the Artemis program logo
- Pieces of the Artemis typography included in the CAPSTONE title, bringing it back to the intertwined nature of this mission and the Artemis program.

A Story in a Patch
The mission patch is a snapshot of CAPSTONE’s daily life at the Moon with details that thread its story through past, present, and future.
- The Past: Nodding to the Apollo patches of the past, the stars were one way of honoring those in the program who were lost but not forgotten. Our stars represent the late Dr. George Born and Darrell D. Cain, both of whom were foundational to Advanced Space’s technical expertise and core beliefs.
- The Present: The orbit that CAPSTONE will be traversing is integral to the Artemis program and by being the first craft to navigate this NRHO, CAPSTONE will provide the necessary experience to go beyond where we have already been. The extension of the orbit beyond the confines of the patch represents the pathfinder nature of the mission. The location markers on the spacecraft and above the Moon represent the the technology demonstration of CAPS.
- The Future: Just as the Artemis program describes the Moon as the pathway to Mars, we too see a future at Mars enabled by the technology demonstrated during the CAPSTONE mission. And so in the not-so-distant future we put Mars on the horizon for the next giant leap, as seen in the red point among the stars.
A Collaborative Effort
With this mission being a coordinated effort between commercial and public interests, we wanted a representation of that collaboration through the logo. The result is a harmonious joining of two brands into a singular idea.

The Details
- The central A is the Artemis arrow tip
- The orbit is from the Advanced Space logo
- The inner red path points the future journey to Mars
- The Moon element references the Artemis program logo
- Pieces of the Artemis typography included in the CAPSTONE title, bringing it back to the intertwined nature of this mission and the Artemis program.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some of the most common questions that come up when describing the CAPSTONE mission. Still can’t find an answer to a question you really want to ask? Reach out to us via email at:
CAPSTONE @ advancedspace.com
What is CAPS?
CAPS stands for ‘Cislunar Autonomous Position System’! It provides position and speed information to other spacecraft which are flying close to the Moon, similar to how a smartphone uses signals from multiple GPS satellites to determine its exact location on Earth. Currently, there is no standard way to determine a spacecraft’s position at the Moon without relying on Earth-based measurements. While this not a problem when there are only a handful of missions happening at any given moment in time, the Moon is going to be getting a lot busier in the near future and there aren’t a lot of options available for phoning home from the Moon. CAPS is aiming to reduce that pressure on ground systems by enabling spacecraft to keep in touch with one another and allow them to keep track of their positions without needing to check back in with Earth constantly.
What are the objectives of the CAPSTONE mission?
CAPSTONE’s primary mission is to pioneer a new and challenging lunar orbit in order to help inform future operations for NASA’s new lunar space station and the rest of the ARTEMIS program. The secondary objective is to test the CAPS technology which will enable navigation services for the Moon using 1 to 2 satellites instead of using 20+ satellites for Earth based GPS. Also several Commercial and Civil spacecraft are expected to arrive at the Moon in the next few years. However, there are only a few massive dishes that have the signal strength to reach the Moon. CAPS will reduce the amount of calls that need to be sent back home to Earth.
Why is CAPSTONE using a Ballistic Lunar Transfer (BLT)?
The fuel required for a spacecraft to insert into lunar orbit from a BLT is much less than a standard lunar transfer. From a design standpoint, this means that the spacecraft can carry less fuel, deliver heavier payloads, and have a simpler propulsion system. Demonstrating a BLT as a viable way to arrive and enter the very specific Near Rectilinear Halo Orbit (NRHO) will be beneficial for large future missions that will need to be delivered to the Moon in preparation of the Lunar Gateway.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some of the most common questions that come up when describing the CAPSTONE mission. Still can’t find an answer to a question you really want to ask? Reach out to us via email at:
CAPSTONE @ advancedspace.com
What is CAPS?
CAPS stands for ‘Cislunar Autonomous Position System’! It provides position and speed information to other spacecraft which are flying close to the Moon, similar to how a smartphone uses signals from multiple GPS satellites to determine its exact location on Earth. Currently, there is no standard way to determine a spacecraft’s position at the Moon without relying on Earth-based measurements. While this not a problem when there are only a handful of missions happening at any given moment in time, the Moon is going to be getting a lot busier in the near future and there aren’t a lot of options available for phoning home from the Moon. CAPS is aiming to reduce that pressure on ground systems by enabling spacecraft to keep in touch with one another and allow them to keep track of their positions without needing to check back in with Earth constantly.
What are the objectives of the CAPSTONE mission?
CAPSTONE’s primary mission is to pioneer a new and challenging lunar orbit in order to help inform future operations for NASA’s new lunar space station and the rest of the ARTEMIS program. The secondary objective is to test the CAPS technology which will enable navigation services for the Moon using 1 to 2 satellites instead of using 20+ satellites for Earth based GPS. Also several Commercial and Civil spacecraft are expected to arrive at the Moon in the next few years. However, there are only a few massive dishes that have the signal strength to reach the Moon. CAPS will reduce the amount of calls that need to be sent back home to Earth.
Why is CAPSTONE using a Ballistic Lunar Transfer (BLT)?
The fuel required for a spacecraft to insert into lunar orbit from a BLT is much less than a standard lunar transfer. From a design standpoint, this means that the spacecraft can carry less fuel, deliver heavier payloads, and have a simpler propulsion system. Demonstrating a BLT as a viable way to arrive and enter the very specific Near Rectilinear Halo Orbit (NRHO) will be beneficial for large future missions that will need to be delivered to the Moon in preparation of the Lunar Gateway.
The Role of the Pathfinder
“[The purpose of flight research] is to separate the real from the imagined problems and to make known the overlooked and the unexpected.”
“Experience is earned by the number of iterations completed, not the number of years spent.“
The Role of the Pathfinder
“[The purpose of flight research] is to separate the real from the imagined problems and to make known the overlooked and the unexpected.”
“Experience is earned by the number of iterations completed, not the number of years spent.“
The Role of the Pathfinder
“[The purpose of flight research] is to separate the real from the imagined problems and to make known the overlooked and the unexpected.”
“Experience is earned by the number of iterations completed, not the number of years spent.“