The Lunar Gateway is soon to become a Gateway to cosmic realities of the Universe.
As a key launch within the Artemis program wherein NASA has declared to send “the first woman and the next man” to the Moon, the lunar gateway is set to become an orbiting habitat for the astronauts.
The lunar gateway is a planned small-space station, placed in lunar orbit, farther away from the Earth than existing International Space Station(ISS).
Gateway is about one-sixth the size of the International Space Station. The Gateway’s first module is set for launch on the second Artemis mission with Orion.
In recent news, NASA has selected Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) for the initial launch on a Falcon Heavy rocket from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Falcon 9 has made only two commercial launches since its successful test launch in early 2018.
The total cost to NASA is approximately $331.8 million, including the launch service and other mission-related costs.
It intends to be used as a solar-powered communication hub, science laboratory, short-term habitation module, and holding area for rovers and other robots. Above all as a refuge to astronauts on farther trips as the current rockets do not have the power to reach our satellites in one go.
Therefore, it will serve as a shelter and staging point for reaching out to Lunar south pole as well as more distant locations like for NASA’s Deep Space Transport concept to Mars.
The distance from the Moon in the stated orbit is calculated just to be; both relatively close to the Moon’s surface but also far away making it easier to pick up astronauts and supplies from Earth if need be.
Previously known as the Deep Space Gateway (DSG), the station has been renamed Lunar Orbital Platform-Gateway (LOP-G).
Gateway development includes four space agencies:
- NASA(National Aeronautics and Space Administration)
- ESA(European Space Agency)
- JAXA(Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency)
- CSA(Canadian Space Agency)
Orbit for the Gateway:
To be launched in a highly elliptical seven-day near-rectilinear halo orbit (NRHO) around the Moon. The total travel time would be 5 days
A list of the Firsts:
1. first mini-space station to be controlled by both; human and autonomously.
2. first deep-space station(farther from Low Earth orbit)
3. more sophisticated executive control software than on any prior space station(easy to control all systems).
The approximate weight of Gateway will be around 40 tonnes consisting of a service module, a communications module, a connecting module, an airlock for spacewalks, a place for the astronauts to live and an operations station to command the Gateway’s robotic arm or rovers on the Moon.
Modules:
- Power and Propulsion Element(PPE)
- Communications module and connecting module (ESPRIT)
- Science and airlock module
- Habitat with robotic arm logistics module(HALO)
Power and Propulsion Element (PPE):
A 60-kilowatt class solar electric propulsion spacecraft that also will provide power, high-speed communications, altitude control, and the capability to move the Gateway to different lunar orbits, providing more access to the Moon’s surface.
Habitation and Logistics Outpost (HALO):
Will provide sufficient command, control and data handling capabilities, energy storage and power distribution, thermal control, communications and tracking capabilities.
The two modules (PPE and HALO) will be launched together on the Falcon Heavy rocket in May 2024.
Gateway Logistics Modules will be used to refuel, resupply and provide logistics on board the mini-space station.
Gateway Airlock Module will be used for performing extravehicular activities outside the mini-space station.
India: talking to the Moon
After the launch of Chandrayaan 1 and 2, ISRO chief K Sivan has announced a revival of the project as Chandrayan 3.
It will be a mission repeat of Chandrayaan-2 but will only include a lander and rover similar to that of Chandrayaan-2. It will not have an orbiter as it is already there.
For more details: https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1598205