The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Capstone program is an American space technology research and development project. The project is carried out by a consortium of universities, private industry, and international partners. Its aim is to develop advanced space technologies that can be used for future missions to Mars and other destinations in the solar system.
The Capstone program was established in 1996 as part of NASA’s Technology Roadmaps process. The goal of the program is to identify and mature high-priority technology areas that are critical to enabling future NASA missions. The program takes a systems engineering approach to technology development, beginning with an assessment of mission needs and ending with the delivery of prototype hardware or software products.
Capstone projects have included the development of new propulsion systems, communications systems, robotics technologies, and habitation systems. These technologies are being developed for use on future robotic missions as well as human exploration missions. The Capstone program has been highly successful in maturing key technologies needed for these future missions while also providing opportunities for University research teams to gain real-world experience working on cutting-edge space technology projects.