The European Space Agency (ESA) has signed an agreement with NASA to provide updated communications tools, habitation and refueling modules for an orbital outpost designed for the Artemis mission. ESA will also operate elements of the Artemis Gateway and deliver European Service Modules for the Orion spacecraft as part of the agreement, NASA said Tuesday.
The habitation module will contain Gateway’s Environmental Control and Life Support System, accommodate science experiments and feature additional crew work and living space for the team. The Japanese government will also contribute parts and docking ports for the module.
“The Gateway is designed to be supplemented by additional capabilities provided by our international partners to support sustainable exploration,” said Kathy Lueders, NASA associate administrator for the human exploration and operations mission directorate.
NASA will assemble Gateway within the lunar orbit as a staging point for missions to the moon. The outpost will also serve as a rendezvous point for the Space Launch System. Gateway will also handle testing technologies for human missions to Mars.