The CAPSTONE™ mission launching this month will test a unique orbit planned for human missions to the Moon.
Westminster, CO. (May 5, 2022) – Advanced Space LLC, the high-tech commercial aerospace company hosted NASA Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy, U.S. Representatives Ed Perlmutter and Jerry McNerney along with some staff members of the U.S. House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology and Lt. Governor’s Chief of Staff today to celebrate the upcoming CAPSTONE™ mission heading to the Moon in May as a pathfinder for NASA. Advanced Space showcased their Colorado headquarters, the location of where the Mission Operations Center for their CAPSTONE mission.
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- CAPSTONE™ will set the stage for cislunar orbit which will help enable the first woman, first person of color, and our return to the Moon in over 50 years as part of the Artemis program.
- CAPSTONE™ stands for the Cislunar Autonomous Positioning System Technology Operations and Navigation Experiment, which will be the first spacecraft to demonstrate the unique lunar orbit that will be used by NASA’s Gateway, the lunar outpost astronauts will visit ahead of descending to the surface of the Moon as part of the Artemis program.
“It was great to see CAPSTONE mission control firsthand, where this satellite will be guided on a unique, groundbreaking path to help us define Gateway’s orbit in a crucial milestone for the future of space exploration and advancing our Moon to Mars program,” said NASA Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy. “In Colorado and around the country, we’ve seen the incredible economic and technological value that has increased with the commercial space community being more than just NASA, combining efforts and talent for the benefit of humanity and exploration.”
Technology development was a key for CAPSTONE. We are grateful to both NASA and the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology for their continued investment that enables such missions,” said Advanced Space CEO Bradley Cheetham. “Advanced Space is proud to support NASA and Gateway in the return to the Moon, this time to stay.”
As a member of the U.S. House Committee on Science, Space, & Technology, U.S. Representative Ed Perlmutter stated, “Small businesses are an integral component of our aerospace ecosystem in Colorado supporting science, space, and technology innovations. CAPSTONE is an exciting mission for NASA and I’m proud of the talented young minds of Advanced Space who are making it happen.”