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Progress on NASA’s Gateway Lunar Space Station
NASA, in collaboration with international partners, is making significant strides in the development of Gateway, a lunar space station designed to orbit the Moon. This station is expected to serve as a cornerstone for NASA’s plans to facilitate human exploration from the Moon to Mars.
The Artemis program aims to send astronauts on various missions around the Moon. Recent updates from NASA and its international collaborators highlight advancements in the construction of Gateway, specifically after recent evaluations at the Thales Alenia Space facility in Turin, Italy. Here, the initial fabrication of one of the two habitation modules for Gateway is approaching completion.
During a visit to Turin, key figures from NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA), and the Italian Space Agency, along with industry representatives from Northrop Grumman and Thales Alenia Space, reviewed the status of the Habitation and Logistics Outpost (HALO) module. The primary structure of HALO is scheduled for transport from Italy to Northrop Grumman’s facility in Gilbert, Arizona, in March. Once it arrives, the module will undergo final outfitting and verification testing before being integrated with the Power and Propulsion Element at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
Jon Olansen, manager of the Gateway Program at NASA’s Johnson Space Center, expressed enthusiasm about this collaborative effort, stating, “Building and testing hardware for Gateway is truly an international collaboration. We’re excited to celebrate this major flight hardware milestone, and this is just the beginning.” He emphasized the ongoing collective progress made with their global partners in extending human outreach within the solar system while pushing forward scientific exploration.
To ensure the readiness of all flight hardware for the Artemis IV mission—the inaugural crewed mission to the Gateway—NASA has set a target launch date for HALO and the Power and Propulsion Element by December 2027. These modules will embark on a year-long uncrewed journey to lunar orbit aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket, collecting valuable scientific data on solar and deep space radiation throughout their transit.
Additionally, ESA’s Lunar Link communication system, currently in testing at a different Thales Alenia Space facility in Cannes, France, will be launched alongside HALO to provide high-speed communications between Gateway and the lunar surface.
Once established in lunar orbit, Gateway will continue to perform scientific observations while preparing for the arrival of astronauts from the Artemis IV mission, which will utilize an Orion spacecraft. This mission will also deliver Gateway’s second pressurized habitable module, known as Lunar I-Hab, led by ESA.
Production of Lunar I-Hab is currently underway by Thales Alenia Space, which is also responsible for the design of the Lunar View refueling module. In alignment with the project’s timelines, welding of HALO was completed in 2024, and subsequent pressure and stress tests were successfully conducted to validate its resilience for deep-space environments.
The Power and Propulsion Element is being assembled by Maxar Space Systems, marking Gateway as the most advanced solar electric propulsion spacecraft ever built. Significant 2024 developments included the installation of fuel tanks and the qualification of innovative roll-out solar arrays. This year will also see the completion of propulsion element assembly and thorough testing of the next-gen electric propulsion thrusters.
SpaceX plays a critical role in the Artemis program, providing the Starship human landing system, which will transport astronauts to the lunar surface during the Artemis III mission. Starship will also facilitate crew transfer from Gateway to the lunar South Pole region for Artemis IV. In addition, Blue Origin has been selected to develop the Blue Moon human landing system for Artemis V, offering vital support for future lunar missions. Having two distinct landing technologies enhances flexibility and ensures a regular cadence of Moon landings as NASA prepares for eventual Mars missions.
Further contributions are being made by the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) through the development of the Canadarm3 robotic system, alongside the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), which is designing life support systems and a logistics vehicle named HTV-XG for the Lunar I-Hab.
Recently, NASA welcomed the Mohammad Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) from the United Arab Emirates as a new Gateway partner, initiating the early design phase for the Gateway Crew and Science Airlock, expected to be delivered during the Artemis VI mission. The contract for this airlock was announced by MBRSC, naming Thales Alenia Space as the prime contractor.
In terms of scientific investigations, three initial studies focusing on radiation will be conducted aboard Gateway. These research initiatives aim to provide critical insights into the unpredictable nature of space weather resulting from solar activities and cosmic rays, with implications for astronaut safety and equipment functionality during Artemis missions.
Gateway is being designed as a multifaceted platform to facilitate long-term exploration in deep space, serving as a vital component of NASA’s Artemis campaign and broader Moon-to-Mars objectives. The station will include multiple docking ports for different visiting spacecraft, space for crew living and working, and facilities to prepare for lunar surface missions. Continuous scientific research will occur at Gateway, both with and without crew, helping to advance understanding of the long-term impacts of deep space radiation on technological systems and human health—an essential aspect as we look toward future missions to Mars.
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www.nasa.gov