API VERSION: 1.2
API SOURCE: NASA/JPL Horizons API

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 Revised: Feb 08, 2026        CAPSTONE / Spacecraft (Moon)               -1176
      https://www.nasa.gov/directorates/spacetech/small_spacecraft/capstone

 BACKGROUND:
  NASA's "Cislunar Autonomous Positioning System Technology Operations and 
  Navigation Experiment" (CAPSTONE) is a 12U CubeSat pathfinder for Gateway, 
  a future Moon-orbiting outpost in NASA's Artemis program.

  Launched from Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand on an Electron rocket (Rocket Lab)
  June 28, 2022, at 09:55:52 UTC. 

  Remained attached to Photon upper-stage for first six days, through apogee 
  raising maneuvers. Separation and start of independent operations occurred 
  July 4, 2022.

  After a three-month journey to its target destination, CAPSTONE will orbit 
  the Moon for at least six months, testing navigation technologies and 
  dynamics of the near rectilinear halo-shaped (NRHO) orbit to be used by 
  Gateway. 

  Every seven days, the trajectory will bring CAPSTONE within 1,000 miles of 
  one lunar pole at periapse, and 43,500 miles from the other pole at apoapse. 
  
  The NRHO provides the advantage of an unobstructed view of Earth in addition 
  to coverage of the lunar South Pole.

 MISSION GOALS:
  - Verify the characteristics of a cis-lunar near rectilinear halo orbit for 
     future spacecraft
  - Demonstrate the NRHO as an efficient path to the Moon's surface and back
  - Demonstrate spacecraft-to-spacecraft navigation services (with LRO)
  - Lay a foundation for commercial support of future lunar operations
  - Gain experience with small dedicated launches of CubeSats beyond low-Earth 
     orbit, to the Moon, and elsewhere 

 SPACECRAFT PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:
   * Dimensions (bus)    : 34 cm x 34 cm x 61 cm
   * Launch mass         : 25 kg
   * Power               : Two solar panel extensions from bus
   * Propulsion          : 8 hydrazine thrusters

 SPACECRAFT TRAJECTORY:
  Trajectory from launch, with tag-up predictions from navigation.
  Data through Februrary 1, 2026. Prediction thereafter.

  Trajectory name                              Start (TDB)    Stop (TDB)
  ----------------------------------------  ----------------- -----------------
  photon_capstone_full_mission              2022-Jun-28 10:07 2022-Jul-04 17:15
  Merge of 118 files (od007 to od304)       2022-Jul-04 17:15 2026-Mar-03 11:34
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No ephemeris for target "CAPSTONE (spacecraft)" prior to A.D. 2026-JAN-25 03:52:50.8160 UT