Japan Expands Gateway Contribution

On November 17th, 2022, the Japanese Government, with the aid of NASA, announced that Japan would have a larger stake in the development and operation of the Gateway Lunar Space Station, the key element in NASA’s Artemis infrastructure.

Gateway Implementing Arrangement

NASA and the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), along with their respective governments, created the Gateway Implementing Arrangement. This arrangement outlines an opportunity for a JAXA Astronaut to fly on NASA’s SLS Orion vehicle, and they will spend a prolonged stay on the gateway station to help build and finalize the space station, along with performing science experiments. JAXA has also pledged to provide critical components to the gateway station, including life support, communications, power, and batteries. Japan also will provide cargo resupply missions on a modified version of their HTV capsule, which has provided cargo to the ISS from 2009 to 2020. This arrangement also confirmed JAXA’s contribution to the International Space Station until 2030, the current ‘expiration date’ for the now 20 year-old station.

Gateway Lunar Space Station

The Gateway Lunar Space Station, commonly referred to as just ‘Gateway’, is NASA’s next major development initiative into their lunar infrastructure. Gateway is being built by Northrop Grumman and Thales Alenia, a French aerospace company, which were the main construction contractors for the International Space Station. The station will be made of four major elements: PPE, HALO, I-HAB, and ESPRIT. PPE, for Power and Propulsion Element, contains the vital backbone of the station, providing solar panels, propulsion, and control for the station. HALO, for Habitation and Logistics Outpost, will be the first pressurized section of the station, providing crew quarters and logistical services and support. The International Habitat, I-Hab, will be the main staging center and research laboratory for the station, and is being co-developed by the European and Japanese Space Programs. Lastly ESPRIT, being developed by ESA, will be a research and refueling center, along with providing primary communications for the station. The station will be the primary staging area for the future of the Artemis program, but will also act as a space to prepare vehicles and crew for future missions to Mars.