-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 SzyUgqnBgTIm0WfanamN9/MsFd7tGNt3Kc8qR8AvyIr9iSLqS8TAREu7ZBTyB8Wl
 LNP8IViSgvGyosi8upQiTQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000902805-08-000001.txt : 20081113
<SEC-HEADER>0000902805-08-000001.hdr.sgml : 20081113
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20081113185418
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000902805-08-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20081113
FILED AS OF DATE:		20081113
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20081113

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CAPSTONE TURBINE CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001009759
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	ENGINES & TURBINES [3510]
		IRS NUMBER:				954180883
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0331

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		21211 NORDHOFF STREET
		CITY:			CHATSWORTH
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			91311
		BUSINESS PHONE:		818-734-5300

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		21211 NORDHOFF STREET
		CITY:			CHATSWORTH
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			91311

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			LOTAN NOAM
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000902805

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-15957
		FILM NUMBER:		081186558

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8187739044

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O MRV COMMUNICATIONS INC
		STREET 2:		8917 FULLBRIGHT AVE
		CITY:			CHATSWORTH
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			91311
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-11-13</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001009759</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CAPSTONE TURBINE CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>cpst</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000902805</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>LOTAN NOAM</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O MRV COMMUNICATIONS INC</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>8917 FULLBRIGHT AVE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CHATSWORTH</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>91311</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-11-13</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.996</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Noam Lotan, Reporting Person</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-11-13</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----