NASA's CAPSTONE Missions Want To Solve The Moon's Three-Body Problem

Key Points:

• NASA has awarded Advanced Space a contract for the CAPSTONE 02 mission, set to launch in 2027, which will test complex spacecraft maneuvering and docking in the challenging three-body gravitational environment between Earth and the Moon.
• The three-body problem involves predicting spacecraft behavior under the simultaneous gravitational influences of Earth and the Moon, complicating navigation in cislunar space where future lunar missions will operate.
• Artemis missions plan to land astronauts on the Moon using the Orion spacecraft, which was not designed for landing, necessitating docking and crew transfers between spacecraft, highlighting the need to master operations in this environment.
• CAPSTONE 02 will deploy two small satellites to conduct formation flying and docking maneuvers in lunar orbit, using visual navigation by stars and lunar terrain to better understand cislunar dynamics.
• Beyond NASA, commercial and military interests, including SpaceX, China, and the U.S. Space Force, are increasingly focused on cislunar space for future satellites, stations, and manufacturing, making these navigation tests critical for upcoming space activities.