NASA recently wrapped up the initial phase of its Cislunar Autonomous Positioning System Technology Operations and Navigation Experiment using a pair of compact satellites. Building on that success, the agency has now contracted Advanced Space once more for CAPSTONE 02. This follow-on effort will explore intricate formation flying and docking procedures amid competing gravitational pulls. The data gathered will prove essential for crewed lunar landings as well as the array of support vehicles needed to sustain a future outpost on the surface. Launch is targeted for 2027.

In orbital mechanics, the three-body problem describes the challenge of forecasting motion when two separate gravitational fields act on a spacecraft simultaneously. Near-Earth flight involves only one dominant force, yet travel between our planet and the Moon passes through a broad zone influenced by both bodies. No straightforward equation captures the resulting shifts in path and velocity, which is why the situation earns the label of a problem.

These complexities intensify with plans to place boots back on the lunar surface. Artemis II already demonstrated crewed flight around the Moon aboard Orion, and the landing attempt planned for Artemis IV will rely on the same vehicle. Because Orion lacks landing capability, crews must transfer to a separate lander both outbound and on return. Mastering operations in this mixed-gravity region is therefore critical.

Cislunar operations on the horizon

CAPSTONE 02 will deploy two satellites, each under 900 pounds, built by Terran Orbital and managed by Advanced Space. In lunar orbit the pair will practice coordinated maneuvers while accounting for the gravitational effects of both Earth and the Moon. No ground facility can replicate these conditions, making the flights indispensable for gaining practical insight. Navigation will rely on star tracking and surface feature recognition.

Interest extends well beyond NASA. Multiple nations and companies, including SpaceX and China, anticipate growing activity in cislunar space. The U.S. Space Force is likewise preparing to position assets there. Future installations such as satellites, habitats, and manufacturing facilities are expected, and commercial value will likely draw security considerations as well. In short, the modest docking trials planned for CAPSTONE 02 preview a much larger presence in the region.