Moon Accommodations Contract Awarded to Thales
The Italian space agency (ASI) has awarded a contract to Thales Alenia Space to conduct a feasibility study of 16 design concepts for moon accommodations to support a human presence there. ASI's initiative is part of a strategic partnership with NASA within the scope of the ARTEMIS program for the human exploration of the Moon, including both lunar orbit and lunar surface.
These studies could well underpin a roadmap for Italian participation in the lunar program – and even the development of a sustainable lunar economy.
In particular, the studies will be focusing on the Shelter, a pressurized lunar surface module to be used by astronauts in an emergency and also as a starting point for surface exploration, as well as on a lunar telecommunications system to facilitate communications between the lunar base, the Lunar Gateway space station and Earth.
Other moon accommodations to be studied include pressurized surface modules such as a lunar laboratory for scientific experiments, a new-generation pressurized observation dome on Gateway and a habitation module for astronauts. Transport systems will be considered as well, to help astronauts explore the lunar surface or transport equipment to Gateway and the lunar surface, and even an automated rover to transport raw materials. Infrastructures needed for the future lunar base include a Lunar Data Center and a power generation and distribution facility.
Thales Alenia Space’s selection as a partner in the Artemis program reflects its strategic vision. Following the Low Earth and Lunar Orbits, the development of lunar surface modules is a new challenge that paves the way for joint governmental and commercial projects that will continue for the next 30 years.
Thales Alenia Space, already responsible for the thermomechanical systems on the European service module for Orion, is heavily involved in the European Space Agency's contribution to the Gateway with ESPRIT and I-HAB. It is also involved in NASA's Human Landing System (HLS), as part of the consortium led by Dynetics, recently selected by NASA, as well as on the Viper rover that NASA will send to the Moon's South Pole in search of water.
(Image provided with Thales Alenia Space news release)