Advanced Space

Advanced Space is a spacecraft mission-design, navigation and operations company in Westminster, Colorado. NASA identifies the company as the developer and operator of the CAPSTONE lunar technology demonstration and as the mission-design partner for ESCAPADE, the agency’s twin-spacecraft investigation of the solar wind and atmospheric loss at Mars.

For ESCAPADE, Advanced Space says its work includes designing the spacecraft orbits, interplanetary cruise and launch targets. The company describes a route that first loops around the Earth–Sun Lagrange point 2 before returning for an Earth flyby. In November 2026 it published viewing charts for the planned Earth encounters and identified navigation among its mission responsibilities.

CAPSTONE launched in June 2022 and entered its target lunar orbit in November 2022. NASA’s account records communications and propulsion challenges during the transfer, followed by data analysis and orbit-refinement manoeuvres by the Advanced Space-led operations team. The mission tested the dynamics of a near-rectilinear halo orbit and spacecraft-to-spacecraft navigation using NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter as a reference.

NASA extended the CAPSTONE partnership in February 2025, including further navigation testing and mission analyses for Artemis operations. In June 2026 the agency reported that the primary and extended objectives had been achieved and said its CAPSTONE activities would conclude that month. NASA distinguished that conclusion from the spacecraft’s continued use for demonstration and risk reduction.

The company also identifies itself as the prime contractor, owner and operator for CAPSTONE 02. In an August 2026 announcement, Advanced Space reported completion of the mission’s critical design review and targeted a 2027 launch. Its stated plan uses two lunar spacecraft to test rendezvous, autonomous navigation and communications. Those statements describe a development programme; they do not establish that the planned spacecraft have flown.

What they build and operate

• Mission design and navigation · Service · Operational
  ESCAPADE orbit design, interplanetary cruise design, launch targeting and navigation support.^[3][4][2]
• CAPSTONE mission operations · Service · Operational
  Developed and operated the lunar navigation and orbit technology demonstration for NASA.^[1]
• CAPSTONE 02 · Programme · In development
  Company-reported prime-contractor programme for lunar rendezvous, navigation and communications demonstrations.^[5]

Milestones

• 28 June 2022
  CAPSTONE launched on a Rocket Lab Electron rocket.^[1]
• 13 November 2022
  CAPSTONE performed lunar orbit insertion after communications and propulsion challenges during its transfer.^[1]
• 07 February 2025
  NASA extended its CAPSTONE partnership with Advanced Space for additional navigation testing and mission analysis.^[1]
• 26 June 2026
  NASA reported completion of CAPSTONE primary and extended objectives and planned to conclude agency activities that month.^[1]
• 25 August 2026
  Advanced Space reported completion of the CAPSTONE 02 critical design review and targeted launch in 2027.^[5]
• 06 November 2026
  Published ESCAPADE Earth-flyby viewing charts and described its trajectory-design and navigation role.^[4]

Sources

1. NASAWhat is CAPSTONE?nasa.gov↗
2. NASAMission Facts About ESCAPADEscience.nasa.gov↗
3. Advanced SpaceESCAPADEadvancedspace.com↗
4. Advanced SpaceESCAPADE Earth Flyby Star Chart Animations by locationadvancedspace.com↗
5. Advanced SpaceAdvanced Space Completes Critical Design Review Milestone for CAPSTONE 02advancedspace.com↗