Lunar Orbital Platform Gateway

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Published on April 30, 2018 6:20:06 PM ● Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uiy67s8zqHU

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Lunar Orbital Platform-Gateway

What is it???

The Lunar Orbital Platform-Gateway (LOP-G) is a NASA led crew-tended cislunar space station that will be built in 2020s, the International Space Station partners: ESA, JAXA and CSA are also looking to join the project.

The LOP-G is new name for now defunct Deep Space getaway, however the LOP-G isn’t replacement for ISS, which is planned to retire in 2028/9. However replacement for ISS is yet to be announced, and funding put in place, the likelihood of ISS serving in to mid-2030s is something under consideration and ESA is keen on keeping ISS running way in to 2030s.

In essence, NASA wants to build a space station that will act as gateway to Mars and the Moon. It’ll be constantly crewed by at least 4 astronauts. Ideally the station will be built by 2027, with 4 main modules.

• The Power and Propulsion Element (PPE) will be used to generate electricity for the space station and ion propulsion. It is targeting launch date is 2022 with SLS.
• The Cislunar Habitation Module can be used for a maximum 21 days habitation, It will be sent during Exploration Mission 3 and will have a docking port for the Orion.

• The Gateway Logistics Module will be used for experiments and logistics on board the space station. The equipment includes a robotic arm, which will be built by the Canadian Space Agency. It will be sent during Exploration Mission 4.

• The Gateway Airlock Module will be used for performing extravehicular activities outside the space station and will be the berth for the Deep Space Transport. It will be sent on the Exploration Mission 5.

LOP-G Station will grow as more modules are added, just like with the ISS, as international partners join in, in particular the ESA, JAXA and CSA the station will expand. Once Deep Space Transport, an interplanetary space transport spacecraft starts to dock with the station every time there’s manned interplanetary mission additional modules might be added.

LOP-G launch schedule, would see first module launched in 2022, the propulsion and power element should be launched on-board of SLS Block 1 Rocket. The power and propulsion element will provide high-rate and reliable communications for the gateway including space-to-Earth and space-to-lunar uplinks and downlinks, spacecraft-to-spacecraft crosslinks, and support for spacewalk communications. Finally, it also can accommodate an optical communications demonstration – using lasers to transfer large data packages at faster rates than traditional radio frequency systems.

In 2023 or early 2024, Habitat and Logistics’ modules will be launched and air-lock will be delivered by manned Orion mission in 2026, this is when the station will also get permanent crew.. With this capability, crew aboard the gateway could live and work in deep space for up to 30 to 60 days at a time. Adding an airlock to the gateway will enable crew to conduct spacewalks, enable science activities and accommodate docking of future elements. NASA is also planning to launch at least one logistics module to the gateway, which will enable cargo resupply deliveries, additional scientific research and technology demonstrations and commercial use.

Cargo and logistics’ module will be added in 2028 and this will enable refuelling for Deep Space Transport to dock with LOP-G.
During the exploratory mission 9, or EM-9 Deep Space Transport will perform one year manned cis-lunar space exploratory mission, the run-down cruise will test all the systems and procedures for future manned mission to Mars scheduled for 2033. Just to add, the crew will also participate in a variety of deep space exploration and commercial activities in the vicinity of the Moon, including possible missions to the lunar surface.

Officially NASA hasn’t mentioned Lunar base or an outpost as the funding for such project isn’t in the budget proposals, however the close links with ESA could see NASA joining ESA on Moon Village which is scheduled for 2027/8 timeframe. In my next video I’ll be looking at Deep Space Transport and what it means for manned missions beyond Earth.