NASA Announces New Spacecraft Technology Demonstration Mission at Moon

NASA is moving forward with the next phase of lunar exploration infrastructure. Per NASA News, CAPSTONE 02 will launch in 2027 with two small spacecraft that will demonstrate advanced navigation and rendezvous techniques in lunar orbit—maneuvers NASA astronauts will need to safely dock with Moon landers during the Artemis program. The mission will also test autonomous navigation software designed to reduce reliance on Earth-based tracking and continue characterizing the Moon's radiation environment. These demonstrations will lay the foundation for Moon Base and future deep space missions.

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