The Gateway, a permanent space station orbiting the Moon, is set to be launched by NASA, European Space Agency (ESA), Japan, Canada, and the United Arab Emirates. Private companies like SpaceX, Blue Origin, and Maxar will also contribute to its construction.
The Gateway’s first two modules, HALO habitat and PPE propulsion system, are scheduled for launch on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket. Before astronauts arrive, the station will spend a year uncrewed in lunar orbit, testing radiation exposure and deep-space survival.
Once crewed, the Gateway will serve as a staging ground for deeper space missions, simulating conditions for future Mars missions. It will study radiation, space weather, and life support systems. The ESA is developing Lunar Link, a high-speed communication system for astronauts.
Astronauts will travel from the Gateway to the Moon’s South Pole using SpaceX’s Starship and Blue Origin’s Blue Moon lander. Canada’s Canadarm3 will also be used to repair and resupply the station, while NASA teams will utilize it as a space lab for experiments.
The Gateway represents a significant collaboration among space agencies and private companies, marking an important step towards expanding human presence in space.
Source: https://www.businesstoday.in/visualstories/news/the-moons-first-space-station-nasas-gateway-will-change-lunar-exploration-forever-211964-24-02-2025