{"id":206063,"date":"2025-04-26T09:15:46","date_gmt":"2025-04-25T23:15:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/?p=855431"},"modified":"2025-04-26T09:15:46","modified_gmt":"2025-04-25T23:15:46","slug":"lunar-space-station-for-nasas-artemis-campaign-to-begin-final-outfitting","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/?p=206063","title":{"rendered":"Lunar Space Station for NASA\u2019s Artemis Campaign to Begin Final Outfitting"},"content":{"rendered":"
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3 min read<\/p>\n

Preparations for Next Moonwalk Simulations Underway (and Underwater)<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Gateway\u2019s HALO module at Northrop Grumman\u2019s facility in Gilbert, Arizona, on April 4, 2025, shortly after its arrival from Thales Alenia Space in Turin, Italy. <\/div>\n
NASA\/Josh Valcarcel<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

NASA continues to mark progress on plans to work with commercial and international partners as part of the Gateway program<\/a>. The primary structure of HALO (Habitation and Logistics Outpost) <\/a>arrived at Northrop Grumman\u2019s facility in Gilbert, Arizona, where it will undergo final outfitting and verification testing.<\/p>\n

HALO will provide Artemis<\/a> astronauts with space to live, work, and conduct scientific research. The habitation module will be equipped with essential systems including command and control, data handling, energy storage, power distribution, and thermal regulation.<\/p>\n

Following HALO\u2019s arrival on April 1 from Thales Alenia Space in Turin, Italy, where it was assembled, NASA and Northrop Grumman hosted an April 24 event to acknowledge the milestone, and the module\u2019s significance to lunar exploration. The event opened with remarks by representatives from Northrop Grumman and NASA, including NASA\u2019s Acting Associate Administrator for Exploration Systems Development Lori Glaze, Gateway Program Manager Jon Olansen, and NASA astronaut Randy Bresnik. Event attendees, including Senior Advisor to the NASA Administrator Todd Ericson, elected officials, and local industry and academic leaders, viewed HALO and virtual reality demonstrations during a tour of the facilities.<\/p>\n

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Dr. Lori Glaze, acting associate administrator for NASA\u2019s Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate, and Dr. Jon B. Olansen, Gateway Program manager, on stage during an April 24, 2025, event at Northrop Grumman\u2019s facility in Gilbert, Arizona, commemorating HALO\u2019s arrival in the United States.\n<\/div>\n
Northrop Grumman<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

While the module is in Arizona, HALO engineers and technicians will install propellant lines for fluid transfer and electrical lines for power and data transfer. Radiators will be attached for the thermal control system, as well as racks to house life support hardware, power equipment, flight computers, and avionics systems. Several mechanisms will be mounted to enable docking of the Orion spacecraft, lunar landers, and visiting spacecraft.<\/p>\n

Launching on top of HALO is the ESA (European Space Agency)-provided Lunar Link system<\/a> which will enable communication between crewed and robotic systems on the Moon and to mission control on Earth. Once these systems are installed, the components will be tested as an integrated spacecraft and subjected to thermal vacuum, acoustics, vibration, and shock testing to ensure the spacecraft is ready to perform in the harsh conditions of deep space.<\/p>\n

In tandem with HALO\u2019s outfitting at Northrop Grumman, the Power and Propulsion Element <\/a>\u2013 a powerful solar electric propulsion system \u2013 is being assembled at Maxar Space Systems in Palo Alto, California. Solar electric propulsion uses energy collected from solar panels converted to electricity to create xenon ions, then accelerates them to more than 50,000 miles per hour to create thrust that propels the spacecraft.<\/p>\n

The element\u2019s central cylinder, which resembles a large barrel, is being attached to the propulsion tanks, and avionics shelves are being installed. The first of three 12-kilowatt thrusters has been delivered to NASA\u2019s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland for acceptance testing before delivery to Maxar and integration with the Power and Propulsion Element later this year.<\/p>\n

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