CAPSTONE Update! 🥳 NASA, Rocket Lab, and Advanced Space are currently targeting no earlier than May 31, 2022, for the launch of the Cislunar Autonomous Positioning System Technology Operations and Navigation Experiment, or CAPSTONE, mission. We will continually evaluate the date for the first target launch attempt within the launch period, which extends to June 22. This animation shows how the pathfinding CubeSat will test a specific orbit for our future lunar-orbiting space station, called Gateway. The orbit is a "near rectilinear halo orbit” and it allows CAPSTONE to rest between the gravitational pull from the Earth and the gravitational pull from the Moon. Researchers want to demonstrate that this orbit requires less fuel and allows constant direct contact with the Earth as the spacecraft passes by the Moon. Credit: Advanced Space #CAPSTONE #Artemis #Gateway #LunarOrbit #Moon #STEM #Satellite #CubeSat #Gravity