1 00:00:00,200 --> 00:00:05,480 NASA is set to begin construction on a Gateway to the Moon, a space 2 00:00:05,519 --> 00:00:10,160 station that will connect the Earth and our Moon in a profound new way and 3 00:00:10,320 --> 00:00:15,320 enable the next generation of deep space science and research. The Gateway station is 4 00:00:15,439 --> 00:00:21,760 a multifaceted construction project involving NASA, the European Union, Japan, Canada, 5 00:00:21,800 --> 00:00:26,879 and a host of private aerospace contractors. Like the ISS before it, the 6 00:00:26,960 --> 00:00:32,920 Gateway will serve as an international outpost, except this station will be one thousand 7 00:00:32,920 --> 00:00:37,240 times further away from the Earth and will serve as a jumping off point for 8 00:00:37,359 --> 00:00:42,200 missions to the surface of the Moon. Let's talk about how the Gateway will 9 00:00:42,200 --> 00:00:47,119 be constructed and what it will look like when fully operational. This is the 10 00:00:47,119 --> 00:00:51,600 space Race. The initial function of the Gateway will be to serve as a 11 00:00:51,679 --> 00:00:56,200 waypoint on crude missions to the lunar surface. The crew will dock their Orion 12 00:00:56,280 --> 00:01:00,439 capsule to the Gateway and transfer over to prepare for the journey to the surface. 13 00:01:00,880 --> 00:01:03,640 Then two members of the crew will transfer over to the human landing system 14 00:01:03,840 --> 00:01:07,319 for descent to the Moon, while two crew members remain in the station. 15 00:01:07,760 --> 00:01:11,959 Following the lunar excursion, the landing party returns to the Gateway. In the 16 00:01:12,159 --> 00:01:17,040 HLS, they rejoin the rest of their crew and then reboard the Orion for 17 00:01:17,120 --> 00:01:21,799 the trip back home. Unfortunately, the gateway will not be in operation for 18 00:01:21,879 --> 00:01:25,519 the first moon landing on Artemis three, but the gateway is scheduled to be 19 00:01:25,560 --> 00:01:30,120 prepared by the crew of Artemis four and will be functional as of Artemis five. 20 00:01:30,680 --> 00:01:34,719 As the station grows and evolves over time, it will start to function 21 00:01:34,840 --> 00:01:38,959 more as a long term research outpost, and eventually the Gateway will have its 22 00:01:40,000 --> 00:01:44,799 own permanent, long term crew. The first phase of the Lunar Gateway is 23 00:01:44,840 --> 00:01:49,640 scheduled to be launched on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket as early as November twenty 24 00:01:49,680 --> 00:01:53,400 twenty four, but more realistically it's going to be sometime in twenty twenty five. 25 00:01:53,920 --> 00:01:59,359 This launch will send the two primary modules of the station together under one 26 00:01:59,439 --> 00:02:04,599 faring the Halo Habitat module and the PPE Power and Propulsion module. This is 27 00:02:04,640 --> 00:02:07,599 going to take a while to actually arrive at the Moon. Sending two space 28 00:02:07,599 --> 00:02:12,439 station modules to the Moon at the same time is pushing even the Falcon Heavy 29 00:02:12,599 --> 00:02:15,439 to its absolute limits, so they are not going on a direct high speed 30 00:02:15,479 --> 00:02:21,520 path. Instead, the payload will take a long slow arc that will last 31 00:02:21,560 --> 00:02:27,159 between nine and ten months before arriving in the desired lunar orbit. The HALO, 32 00:02:27,360 --> 00:02:31,240 or Habitat and Logistics Outpost, is being manufactured by Northrop Grumman in the 33 00:02:31,360 --> 00:02:37,240 United States and will serve as the core module of the station. It's essentially 34 00:02:37,280 --> 00:02:42,000 a repurposing of the company's Singus spacecraft, which is the primary supply ship of 35 00:02:42,039 --> 00:02:46,199 the ISS. Halo is where the Orion capsule and HLS vehicles will dock and 36 00:02:46,280 --> 00:02:51,599 where the crew will live and work for the duration of their mission. According 37 00:02:51,599 --> 00:02:53,960 to Northrop Grumman, the Halo module has space for the crew to sleep, 38 00:02:53,960 --> 00:03:00,000 an exercise, prepare food, and perform scientific experiments, though the relatively small 39 00:03:00,080 --> 00:03:05,039 dimensions of the gateway modules will make for a less than luxurious experience. At 40 00:03:05,039 --> 00:03:08,759 just three meters in diameter, the Halo is around thirty percent more narrow than 41 00:03:08,800 --> 00:03:14,599 the ISS core modules, and due to a combination of weight restrictions and design 42 00:03:14,639 --> 00:03:20,400 constraints, the Halo module will have no windows at all, which is probably 43 00:03:20,439 --> 00:03:24,639 the most disappointing factor for future crew members. On April nineteenth, Northrop Grumman 44 00:03:24,719 --> 00:03:30,080 posted a photo on Twitter of their new thermal vacuum chamber, which is under 45 00:03:30,080 --> 00:03:35,240 construction at their facility in Gilbert, Arizona. The company wrote that this giant 46 00:03:35,360 --> 00:03:38,759 enclosure will be used to test the HALO module prior to the launch on the 47 00:03:38,800 --> 00:03:44,280 Falcon Heavy. Halo will be integrated with the PPE, or Power and Propulsion 48 00:03:44,360 --> 00:03:49,680 element. This is another United States contribution to Gateway, coming from the satellite 49 00:03:49,719 --> 00:03:55,159 company Maxar Technologies. This module is purely about function. Once deployed in orbit 50 00:03:55,199 --> 00:04:00,840 around the Moon, the PPE will extend two large solar panel rays that will 51 00:04:00,960 --> 00:04:04,159 roll out like yoga mats, each about the size of a football field end 52 00:04:04,240 --> 00:04:10,360 zone. The module will utilize this solar energy to generate sixty kilowatts of electric 53 00:04:10,360 --> 00:04:15,439 power for Gateway. In addition, the module is fitted with electric ion thrusters 54 00:04:15,560 --> 00:04:19,079 that will use energy from the Sun to accelerate low density zenon gas. This 55 00:04:19,199 --> 00:04:24,720 is how Gateway will maintain its orbital path. On March thirty first, the 56 00:04:24,839 --> 00:04:29,519 NASA Gateway Twitter account posted a photo of the central cylinder of the PPE module, 57 00:04:29,759 --> 00:04:35,160 writing that PPE will make Gateway the most powerful solar electric spacecraft ever flown, 58 00:04:35,639 --> 00:04:41,160 following that not much happens with Gateway until Artemis four, but this will 59 00:04:41,199 --> 00:04:46,079 be a big mission for the station. This is tentatively scheduled for twenty twenty 60 00:04:46,079 --> 00:04:48,920 eight, and it will be the first crew to make use of the station. 61 00:04:49,040 --> 00:04:53,920 And not only that, but Artemis four will be bringing along the third 62 00:04:53,959 --> 00:05:00,920 module for Gateway. The European Space Agency's International Habitation Module or IHAB I will 63 00:05:00,959 --> 00:05:04,399 be hitching a ride along with the Orion in the new Exploration upper stage of 64 00:05:04,439 --> 00:05:10,079 the SLS Block one B configuration. The Orion will doc IHAB to the Halo 65 00:05:10,120 --> 00:05:14,360 module on the opposite end from the PPE. With these three together, Gateway 66 00:05:14,399 --> 00:05:19,120 should be fully functional. I HAB brings environmental control and life support systems. 67 00:05:19,279 --> 00:05:24,759 It will have a galley, hygiene and waste management, refrigerators, workstations, 68 00:05:24,759 --> 00:05:29,959 and control consoles. Still no windows though, coming to Gateway with Artemis five 69 00:05:30,040 --> 00:05:33,399 in twenty twenty nine. Also on the SLS Block one B Exploration Upper Stage 70 00:05:33,480 --> 00:05:40,600 will be the European System providing refueling, infrastructure and telecommunications or SPREE. In 71 00:05:40,639 --> 00:05:44,879 addition to everything that it says in the name, the new module will finally 72 00:05:44,920 --> 00:05:49,240 deliver a cupola style observatory window to the Gateway station so people living in orbit 73 00:05:49,279 --> 00:05:54,920 around the Moon can actually see the damn Moon. But that's not all. 74 00:05:55,120 --> 00:05:59,160 Artemis five is also slated to deliver the Canada ARM three to the Gateway. 75 00:05:59,439 --> 00:06:02,319 This is going to provide them with an external robotic system. We still don't 76 00:06:02,360 --> 00:06:05,639 have a specific use case for this thing yet, but it's just cool that 77 00:06:05,680 --> 00:06:10,959 the Gateway will have its own robotic arm. Then with Artemis six in twenty 78 00:06:11,040 --> 00:06:15,040 thirty, there will be an airlock module delivered to Gateway. We're still not 79 00:06:15,079 --> 00:06:17,399 sure who's making that or what it's going to look like, but this will 80 00:06:17,439 --> 00:06:23,279 allow astronauts to go outside the Gateway and do spacewalks around the Moon, which 81 00:06:23,720 --> 00:06:27,519 is so fragg and cool. At this point, the Canada ARM will become 82 00:06:27,639 --> 00:06:30,680 a lot more useful as well. Throughout this whole period, NASA will be 83 00:06:30,759 --> 00:06:36,199 running supply missions to the Gateway using a yet to be revealed SpaceX Dragon XL, 84 00:06:36,480 --> 00:06:41,800 which is supposed to be an upgraded deep space version of the existing Cargo 85 00:06:41,920 --> 00:06:46,279 Dragon spacecraft. These will launch on the Falcon Heavy and reach the Gateway to 86 00:06:46,360 --> 00:06:50,360 deliver supplies and remove trash. One of the really unique aspects of the Gateway 87 00:06:50,600 --> 00:06:55,800 is that it will be taking advantage of a new orbital path around the Moon 88 00:06:56,240 --> 00:07:00,480 This is called the near rectilinear halo orbit. It sounds very complicated, and 89 00:07:00,839 --> 00:07:04,959 it is, but in simple terms, this is a very long oval shaped 90 00:07:05,079 --> 00:07:09,959 orbit that takes one week to go around the Moon. At the peragy, 91 00:07:10,120 --> 00:07:13,519 or lowest point of the orbit, the Gateway will come in close around the 92 00:07:13,560 --> 00:07:15,839 north pole of the Moon at nine hundred and thirty miles above the surface, 93 00:07:16,079 --> 00:07:19,560 and then fly way out into space for the aperge, or highest point of 94 00:07:19,600 --> 00:07:25,720 the orbit, at forty three thou five hundred miles. This particular orbit uses 95 00:07:25,759 --> 00:07:29,480 a balancing point between the gravity of the Earth and the Moon, and it 96 00:07:29,519 --> 00:07:33,519 makes for an extremely stable path that won't require much energy from the Ppe thruster 97 00:07:33,680 --> 00:07:39,399 section to maintain over the long term. If NASA had chosen a lower orbit 98 00:07:39,439 --> 00:07:44,120 that circled tight around the Moon, then it would have required significantly more energy 99 00:07:44,160 --> 00:07:47,759 and fuel to resist the Moon's gravity and keep the space station in place. 100 00:07:48,160 --> 00:07:51,240 If they had gone for a high and distant orbit, then it would have 101 00:07:51,279 --> 00:07:56,920 been even less energy intensive, but would make access to the Moon's surface very 102 00:07:56,959 --> 00:08:01,079 difficult. So the near rectilinear halo orbit is kind of a best of both 103 00:08:01,160 --> 00:08:03,879 world scenario, and when the Gateway does pass close to the Moon, it 104 00:08:03,920 --> 00:08:09,160 comes in on an approach angle that would allow the hls to reach just about 105 00:08:09,279 --> 00:08:13,360 any area of the surface that they want to explore. The orbital path also 106 00:08:13,399 --> 00:08:16,279 maintains a constant line of sight with the Earth, meaning there will be no 107 00:08:16,319 --> 00:08:22,839 communications blackout periods. NASA is currently testing out the near rectilinear halo orbit for 108 00:08:22,879 --> 00:08:26,519 the first time using their Capstone satellite. This is a microwave sized box that 109 00:08:26,560 --> 00:08:31,560 was launched by the rocket Lab Electron rocket in twenty twenty two. The job 110 00:08:31,600 --> 00:08:37,519 for Capstone is essentially to validate that everything we just said is actually true. 111 00:08:37,960 --> 00:08:41,440 Theories are only theories until you put them to the test, So Capstone will 112 00:08:41,440 --> 00:08:46,600 be testing the power and propulsion system requirements for maintaining its orbital path, along 113 00:08:46,639 --> 00:08:52,399 with verifying new navigation and communication systems that will later be utilized by Gateway and 114 00:08:52,519 --> 00:08:58,039 future operations around the Moon. As it stands, in NASA's most recent twenty 115 00:08:58,120 --> 00:09:03,360 twenty four budget request, they specific details going out as far as Artemis seven 116 00:09:03,440 --> 00:09:07,080 in twenty thirty one, and they only list Gateway operations with an arrow pointing 117 00:09:07,200 --> 00:09:11,679 forward into the future, so it's hard to say exactly right now what that 118 00:09:11,720 --> 00:09:16,120 future might hold, but one of the key long term goals that we know 119 00:09:16,240 --> 00:09:20,240 NASA is planning for the Gateway is to use this as a jumping off point 120 00:09:20,480 --> 00:09:24,519 for an expanded presence on Mars. By using Gateway as a staging point in 121 00:09:24,559 --> 00:09:30,000 between the Earth and Mars, it gives them the capability to send much larger 122 00:09:30,039 --> 00:09:33,879 and more complex payloads to the Red planet. Launching anything straight from Earth to 123 00:09:33,919 --> 00:09:39,679 Mars is incredibly difficult. Just opening up the possibility of refueling a spacecraft in 124 00:09:39,759 --> 00:09:45,600 lunar orbit will make that journey so much easier, and Gateway can be used 125 00:09:45,639 --> 00:09:50,279 in a ton of creative ways to essentially give us a foothold into the wider 126 00:09:50,320 --> 00:09:54,200 Solar System. It might not be pretty or particularly comfortable, but the Gateway 127 00:09:54,240 --> 00:10:00,720 Station will likely be one of the most important things that humanity builds this decade.