NASA Lunar Gateway Space Station

NASA Image of its upcoming Lunar Gateway Space Station, when it Launches for the Moon in 2024, as part of the Artemis mission.

The Agency said the Orbiting Laboratory would provide Astronauts with a 'home away from home' during Trips to the Moon, and a Staging Post for Lunar Landings.

The Orbiting lab will have a Four Person Capacity and will see NASA work with some Existing International Space Station Partners including: Canada, Europe, Japan, and Russia.

Large parts of the Station will be built by Commercial Partners and will have a Docking Port for the SpaceX Starship Lunar Lander that will Ferry Astronauts between the Orbiting Base and the Surface of the Moon.

NASA also Confirmed that the Platform will help address one of the Biggest concerns for Space Travel beyond Earth's Orbit by measuring Radiation Levels.

The Radiation-Detecting Suite of Research Instruments is Planned to Launch inside the First Module of the Multipurpose International Outpost, which will be in a Highly Elliptical Seven-day Orbit around the Moon.

The European Space Agency will build its own Service and Habitation Modules.

Lunar Gateway forms a Core part of the Artemis Missions, which will see NASA put the First Woman and next man on the Moon by 2024, although it could be Delayed.

The bulk of the Artemis Mission, including the Lunar Gateway, will be sent to the Moon using NASA's New massive Space Launch System Rocket. Development on the Rocket is nearly Finished, with the First Test Flight, which will send the Orion Spaceship around the Moon without a Crew, due to happen late this year or early next year.

However, NASA announced, in February, they would begin Construction of Gateway using the SpaceX Falcon Heavy Launch Vehicle. Elon Musk's Space Firm will Launch the foundational Elements of the Gateway to Lunar Orbit. This includes the Power and Propulsion Element (PPE) and the Habitation and Logistics Outpost (HALO). They are expected to Launch for the Moon in May 2024 at the Earliest, but could be as late as October 2024.

SpaceX also Won the Contract to Land Astronauts on the Surface of the Moon. The Contract, worth $2.9 Billion, involves the Prototype Starship Spacecraft that is being Tested at SpaceX's South Texas Facility.

SpaceX beat out, Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin and Defence Contractor Dynetics, to be the Sole Provider for the system.

This was a surprising Break from the Pas,t when NASA has chosen Multiple Companies in case one Fails.

Industry Analysts said the Decision underscores the fact that SpaceX, founded by Musk in 2002 with the Goal of Colonising Mars, is now seen as NASA's most Trusted Private Sector Partner.

Under the Artemis Program to Return Humans to the Moon, NASA wants to use the Space Launch System Rocket to Launch Four Astronauts on Board an Orion Crew Capsule, which will then Dock with a Lunar Space Station called Gateway.

The First Crewed mission will be called Artemis 3, taking up to Four Astronauts to Lunar Orbit in the Orion Capsule, where, if it is ready they will Dock with the Gateway.

Starship will be Waiting, Docked with the Gateway, to Receive Two Crew Members for the Final Leg of the Journey to the Surface of the Moon.










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