Photo credit: arstechnica.com
Recent developments in the NASA Gateway program have been marked by delays and budget overruns, which officials attribute largely to evolving project requirements. Significant shifts occurred in 2020 when NASA revised its strategy to launch the Power and Propulsion Element (PPE) alongside the Habitation and Logistics Outpost (HALO) on a single rocket, resulting in substantial design alterations.
Jared Isaacman, nominated by former President Trump for the role of NASA administrator, was questioned about his commitment to the Gateway initiative during a Senate Commerce Committee hearing on April 9. Chairman Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), a prominent advocate for the Gateway program, underscored its importance, particularly in providing sustained employment at NASA’s mission control in Houston over the project’s projected 15-year span. In response to Cruz’s inquiries, Isaacman expressed an eagerness to understand the benefits and challenges posed by the Gateway, acknowledging its connection to other programs facing delays and budget issues.
Gateway Program Progress Report
Despite these challenges, the Gateway program recently marked a noteworthy achievement just prior to Isaacman’s confirmation hearing. The HALO module’s metallic pressure shell was successfully transported from Italy to Gilbert, Arizona, although it is still incomplete and missing essential life support systems and other necessary hardware.
In the coming years, Northrop Grumman will complete the outfitting of HALO while coordinating with the Power and Propulsion Element, which is currently under construction at Maxar Technologies in Silicon Valley. This assembly phase, along with subsequent prelaunch testing, often reveals issues that could result in increased costs and further delays.
Jon Olansen, a mechanical engineer and seasoned space shuttle flight controller now directing the Gateway program at Johnson Space Center, recently shared insights into the program’s status. A summary of that discussion is provided below.
Ars: The HALO module has now arrived in Arizona. What are the next steps?
Olansen: The HALO module underwent extensive structural work at Thales Alenia Space in Italy before its shipment. Now in Arizona, Northrop Grumman is tasked with outfitting the module with the necessary systems for mission execution, crew safety, and scientific activities. The outfitting will include command-and-control systems, avionics, power distribution, thermal systems, environmental controls, crew systems, and scientific payload facilities.
Ars: What is the current status of the Power and Propulsion Element?
Olansen: The assembly and integration of the PPE is progressing well, with key components such as the central cylinder and propulsion tanks coming together. Our objective in the next year is to complete assembly and move into integrated spacecraft testing.
Ars: What challenges are currently prioritized to ensure launch readiness?
Olansen: Our main focus is on completing the integration and assembly activities to prepare for full vehicle testing. This involves orchestrating various tasks across both the PPE and HALO, ensuring that both vehicles are assembled correctly and ready for power-on testing. The coordination of software development is a critical factor pertaining to this process.
Olansen continued to highlight that the electrical propulsion system is on track, with the first thruster already delivered and undergoing acceptance testing at Glenn Research Center in Ohio. These thrusters will eventually be integrated into the PPE at Maxar Technologies.
Ars: How is the program addressing concerns outlined by the Government Accountability Office regarding the mass of the Gateway?
Olansen: We are actively managing mass considerations now that we plan to launch the two vehicles simultaneously. While maintaining an optimal spacecraft design is essential, we will continuously evaluate the mass of all components to ensure that we can fulfill our mission objectives. Several strategies are available to manage mass, and decisions will be made as required throughout development.
Ars: The GAO also raised issues about Gateway’s controllability with large vehicles docked. What progress has been made regarding this matter?
Olansen: We are carefully assessing all potential risks. Initial concerns revolved around how various visiting vehicles might influence the Gateway’s stack controllability. Having a smaller station than the International Space Station (ISS) requires a thorough understanding of the implications from thruster firings during approaches. We are adapting the Maxar-designed bus to optimize our control authority for upcoming docking scenarios, and we have progressively enhanced software and management processes to facilitate effective handling of these situations.
Source
arstechnica.com