Team Highlight – Ethan Kayser

Team Highlight – Ethan Kayser

What has been your favorite project at Advanced Space and why?

This may be a common answer, but I’d have to say CAPSTONE. It was an incredible opportunity to become the Mission Design Lead for a Moon mission just three years after finishing my undergraduate degree. That role is something I envisioned I’d get to do maybe a decade into my career. This unique opportunity really solidified that I had made the right choice in abandoning grad school plans and moving across the country to join a small company of less than 10 people. It’s also amazing to be part of something much bigger, knowing that CAPSTONE is part of Artemis and is helping to pave the way to get humans back on the surface of the Moon. 
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Plotting Orbits: Using Math and Lessons Learned to Plan Orbits for the Lunar Gateway

Plotting Orbits: Using Math and Lessons Learned to Plan Orbits for the Lunar Gateway

For several years now, Advanced Space has analyzed orbital dynamics for the Lunar Gateway. Supporting the Gateway’s Mission Design and Navigation (MDNAV) team, located primarily at NASA’s Johnson Space Center, these analyses have helped inform station requirements; develop concepts of operations; plan for contingencies; and assist with other planning activities. Our experience with operating the CAPSTONE™ mission in the unique near-rectilinear halo orbit (NRHO) environment has enabled us to help NASA understand the best ways to operate spacecraft in that orbit. These results have been shared with the Gateway team and at industry conferences. (more…)