Contracts Awarded for NASA Gateway Project

US,Canadian,Japanese and European firms are to design and build major elements of NASA's Gateway project,including advanced robotics,habitations,telecommunications and refueling modules and elements.NASA will thus be enabled to lead a global coalition to the Moon and beyond,contributing to the creation of a dynamic and sustainable exploration architecture.The small space station is to be engineered for a 15-year minimum lifespan.Gateway will also be capable of autonomous operations,since it will not be continuously occupied.* NASA's international partners on the project include the European Space Agency (ESA);Canadian Space Agency (CSA);and Japanese Space Agency (JAXA).ESA will contribute habitation and refueling modules,as well as enhanced telecommunications.The ESA prime contractor for the systems is Thales Alenia Space,a joint venture by aerospace and defence firms Thales and Leonardo.The ESA International Habitation Module,I-HAB, will enhance Gateway capabilities for scientific research,life support systems and crew living quarters,enabling longer dueration crewed missions;while the European System Providing Refueling,Infrastructure and Telecommunications (ESPRIT) consists of a refueling module with observation windows,plus high rate telecommunications for the Habitation and Logisitics Outpost (HALO).ESA contractors are currently completing design work,and construction of both systems is slated to begin in late 2021.The I-HAB,to be launched in 2026, will feature improved micrometeoroid and radiation protection for the Gateway crews,in light of the harsh environment of deep space.The refueling element is planned to launch in 2027.* International astronauts will fly to the Gateway aboard the Orion spacecraft as part of integrated crews of US and partner astronauts.* NASA has contracted the launch of the HALO Power and Propulsion element,the initial portion of the Gateway,as early as May 2024 on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket.* CSA is contributing the Canadarm 3,to be built by MDA,and is an advanced external robotic arm for Gateway.Under the Gateway Treaty,Canadian astronauts are to fly on the first crewed mission aboard the Orion spacecraft,Artemis 2,which will send humans deeper into space than ever before,and on an a separate flight to the Gateway.For its part,ESA expects to send a European astronaut to the lunar surface on a later Artemis mission.* JAXA will contribute habitation components and logistics resupply.* Northrop Grumman (NOC),MDA Ltd (XTSE:MDA),Thales SA (XPAR:HO),Leonardo SpA (XMIL:LDO).