NASA has awarded a $935 million contract to Northrop Grumman to build and integrate the first habitation module for the Lunar Gateway, the orbiting outpost that will serve as a vital hub for deep-space exploration between Earth and the Moon.
Under the Artemis program, NASA aims to return humans to the Moon as early as 2024. Central to this effort is the Lunar Orbital Platform-Gateway, where astronauts can reside between surface missions, conduct scientific experiments, and prepare for future voyages, including crewed missions to Mars.
NASA is partnering with industry leaders for Gateway construction. Northrop Grumman has been selected to develop the Habitation and Logistics Outpost (HALO) module, which will provide living quarters, a command center, and docking ports for Orion spacecraft, SpaceX's Dragon XL cargo vehicle, and lunar landers.
HALO's design draws from Northrop Grumman's proven Cygnus spacecraft, used for resupplying the International Space Station. "By leveraging our active Cygnus production line, Northrop Grumman can deliver an affordable and reliable HALO module on the timeline needed for NASA's Artemis program," said Steve Krein, vice president of civil and commercial satellites at Northrop Grumman.
The contract covers HALO's construction, integration with the Power and Propulsion Element (PPE) built by Maxar, launch preparations, and in-orbit activation.
NASA recently contracted the European Space Agency (ESA) for a second habitation module, named "Esprit," featuring an observation dome akin to the ISS's Cupola.
The PPE and HALO are slated to launch together in November 2023 on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket. While Artemis III crews may bypass the Gateway and head directly to the surface via Orion, like Apollo missions, Artemis IV is planned to dock there.
