NASA is gearing up to launch the Habitation and Logistics Outpost (HALO), depicted in the image's background, and the Power and Propulsion Element to lunar orbit as initial parts of Gateway. These components will precede the Artemis IV mission. During the mission, astronauts will embark aboard the Orion spacecraft with the Lunar I-Hab, visible in the foreground, to integrate it with Gateway. The Lunar I-Hab is supplied by the European Space Agency (ESA) with significant contributions from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), and it is one of four modules of Gateway where astronauts will reside and operate.
Thales Alenia Space has finished significant welding tasks on HALO and started the preliminary production of Lunar I-Hab last year. The firm serves as a subcontractor to Northrop Grumman for HALO and as the primary contractor for ESA concerning Lunar I-Hab.
In addition to HALO and Lunar I-Hab, two more modules from ESA and the Mohammad Bin Rashid Space Centre constitute the main framework of the station. The Canadian Space Agency (CSA) is contributing the advanced external robotic system, Canadarm3, and supports for various scientific instruments.
The international crew that will inhabit Gateway, conduct scientific research, and gear up for expeditions to the Moon's South Pole will be pioneers in establishing a human presence in deep space.
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