Lunar Gateway Module Reaches Final Assembly Phase for Artemis Missions

Lunar Gateway Module Reaches Final Assembly Phase for Artemis Missions
by Clarence Oxford
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Apr 28, 2025

NASA's Gateway program is advancing steadily as preparations continue for deep space exploration alongside commercial and international collaborators. The HALO (Habitation and Logistics Outpost) primary structure recently arrived at Northrop Grumman's facility in Gilbert, Arizona, where it is set to undergo final outfitting and rigorous verification testing.

Designed to support Artemis astronauts, HALO will offer vital living quarters, research facilities, and workspace. The module will feature critical systems for command and control, energy management, power distribution, thermal regulation, and onboard data handling.

Transported from Thales Alenia Space in Turin, Italy, on April 1, HALO's arrival was marked by a special event on April 24. Northrop Grumman and NASA representatives, including NASA's Acting Associate Administrator for Exploration Systems Development Lori Glaze, Gateway Program Manager Jon Olansen, and astronaut Randy Bresnik, addressed the significance of this achievement. Among the attendees were Senior Advisor to the NASA Administrator Todd Ericson, regional officials, and leaders from industry and academia, who toured the facility and experienced virtual reality demonstrations showcasing HALO's capabilities.

During its stay in Arizona, engineers and technicians will install systems essential for HALO's operations, including fluid and electrical lines to support propellant transfer and power distribution. Radiators for thermal regulation, racks for life support and avionics systems, and docking hardware for Orion, lunar landers, and visiting spacecraft will also be integrated.

The module will also host the ESA (European Space Agency)-developed Lunar Link system, providing essential communications between lunar assets and mission control on Earth. Upon completion of outfitting, HALO will undergo integrated spacecraft testing, encompassing thermal vacuum, acoustic, vibration, and shock trials to validate its readiness for deep space deployment.

Meanwhile, progress continues on Gateway's Power and Propulsion Element at Maxar Space Systems in Palo Alto, California. This solar electric propulsion system harnesses solar energy to generate and accelerate xenon ions to speeds exceeding 50,000 miles per hour, delivering sustained thrust for spacecraft movement.

At Maxar, technicians are assembling the element's core cylinder and attaching it to the propulsion tanks, while avionics systems are also being installed. The first of three 12-kilowatt thrusters has reached NASA's Glenn Research Center in Cleveland for acceptance testing, paving the way for final integration with the Power and Propulsion Element later this year.