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NASA Announces New Spacecraft Technology Demonstration Mission at Moon (CAPSTONE 02)

Page: NASA RTMD article by Loura Hall, 24 July 2026 (last updated 28 July 2026). https://www.nasa.gov/directorates/rtmd/nasa-announces-new-spacecraft-technology-demonstration-mission-at-moon/. Fetched 2026-10-01T06:23:46Z. File: sources/moon-base/nasa-gov-directorates-rtmd-nasa-announces-new-spacecraft-technology-demonstration-mission-.md.

Summary. The article announces CAPSTONE 02. Two identical spacecraft of about 400 kg, built by Terran Orbital under a contract to Advanced Space, will launch in 2027. In lunar orbit they will demonstrate rendezvous and proximity operations, autonomous navigation and cislunar communications, and keep characterizing the radiation environment. The phases page lists CAPSTONE 02 as a Phase One Moon Base asset.

Key points

  • Purpose: the relative-navigation techniques "are designed to support NASA astronauts as they dock with Moon landers in cislunar orbit". The navigation strategy is "similar to those planned for Orion's approach to a lunar lander".
  • Why fly it: "Since these conditions can't be fully recreated on Earth, they must be tested in space."
  • Payloads:
    • three NASA-developed navigation software suites
    • an optical imaging payload from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
    • a more mature version of the Cislunar Autonomous Positioning System software
  • Management and funding:
    • Funded by the Human Spaceflight Mission Directorate, with support from the Research and Technology Mission Directorate.
    • Managed by Small Spacecraft & Distributed Systems at NASA Ames.
    • Contracted through an SBIR Phase III award.
  • Quote from Christopher Baker (In-Space Infrastructure portfolio lead, RTMD): "Achieving our most ambitious space exploration goals requires iterative, risk-tolerant demonstrations in partnership with industry. Technology development through flight testing is how we convert hard problems into the lasting capabilities needed for a permanent presence at the Moon."

Missions and assets · Phase 1 functional gaps: communications and PNT