If the year 1969 remains marked by the first step of Man on the Moon, the Lunar Gateway space project – a 40-ton space station in orbit around the Moon – is making great strides. At the heart of NASA’s Artemis program, this project has just reached a new milestone.
Because Thales Alenia Space, project manager of the program, in collaboration with OHB, has just signed, this Monday, October 14, in Milan with the European Space Agency (ESA), an amendment to the contract relating to the development of the communication module and ESPRIT1 resupply intended for this future Gateway cislunar space station.
10 tons versus 6
This amendment for an amount of 164 million euros (the contract signed in January 2021 was for 296.5 million euros) provides for an extension and optimization of this module, in particular a significant increase in the size of the element Lunar View which will weigh 10 tonnes compared to 6 previously and 4.6m in diameter compared to 3.4 previously. This element equipped with six large windows will offer a 360° view of the exterior of the station and the Moon, and will include a larger logistics space for storing cargo and supplies for the crew.
This development results from NASA’s choice to launch Lunar View alongside an Orion manned vehicle. If it is not intended to be permanently occupied, the lunar station will be able to accommodate up to four astronauts at a time for one to three months.
Assembled and tested in Cannes
The Thales Alenia Space site in Cannes will be in charge of the development, assembly and testing of the two elements Lunar Link and Lunar View.
The launch of the first is planned for 2026 while delivery of the second is expected in 2029 for launch the following year. “Acquiring new experiences on and around the Moon will prepare NASA to send the first humans to Mars in the years to come. The lunar space station will play a vital role in this process”indicates Thales Alenia Space.
