The European Space Agency (ESA) launched its first human spaceflight mission 40 years ago. The mission included the first ESA astronaut, Ulf Merbold, and the Spacelab module. The Spacelab module was a reusable laboratory that turned the Space Shuttle’s cargo bay into a mini-space station for scientific research

The Gateway is a joint project between NASA, ESA, CSA, and JAXA. The Gateway will be the first significant Moon orbiting station. It will weigh around 40 tonnes and will include: 

• A service module 
• A communications module 
• A connecting module 
• An airlock for spacewalks 
• A place for the astronauts to live 
• An operations station to command the Gateway’s robotic arm or rovers on the Moon 

The Gateway’s science disciplines will include: 

• Planetary science 
• Astrophysics 
• Earth observation 
• Heliophysics 
• Fundamental space biology 
• Human health and performance 

The Gateway’s first module is I-Hab. It will be the first to use the new standard in deep space.

ESA’s first human spaceflight mission lifted off 40 years ago today. Accompanied by the first ESA astronaut, Ulf Merbold, the Spacelab module took flight inside the Space Shuttle’s cargo bay, turning NASA’s ‘space truck’ into a mini-space station for scientific research.

Spacelab flew on 22 Space Shuttle missions between 1983 and 1998. The first Spacelab mission was launched on STS-9 in 1983. The program ended in 1998. 

Spacelab components were used on 41 Shuttle missions in total. The habitable modules were flown on 16 Space Shuttle missions in the 1980s and 1990s. Spacelab Pallet missions were flown 6 times and Spacelab Pallets were flown on other missions 19 times. 

The 22 missions made contributions to: Astronomy, Life sciences, Atmospheric physics, Earth observation, Materials science under microgravity. 

Spacelab conducted more than 70 experiments during a 10-day work period. The experiments ranged from: 

• Atmospheric research 
• Plasma and solar physics 
• Materials research 
• Medicine

The Spacelab’s main objective was to demonstrate the ability to conduct scientific research in space. The Spacelab module was used for: 

Life sciences, Micro-gravity, Earth and atmosphere observations, Astronomy, Solar, Materials sciences. 

The Spacelab module was made up of several components, including: 

• A pressurized module 
• An unpressurized carrier 
• Other hardware 

The Spacelab module was installed in the payload bay of the Space Shuttle orbiter. The Space Shuttle served as a space station for research during Spacelab missions.

The first Spacelab module was LM1, which was donated to NASA in exchange for flight opportunities for European astronauts. The second module, LM2, was purchased by NASA from ERNO. Construction on the Spacelab modules began in 1974

The first Spacelab flight was Spacelab-1, which launched on November 28, 1983. The mission lasted 10 days, 7 hours, and 47 minutes, and completed 166 orbits of the Earth. The Space Shuttle Columbia landed at Edwards Air Force base in California on December 8, 1983

NASA built the Spacelab modules. The European Space Research Organisation (ESRO), now the European Space Agency (ESA), signed a memorandum of understanding with NASA in 1973 to construct the science laboratory. Construction began in 1974 by Entwicklungsring Nord (ERNO), a subsidiary of VFW-Fokker GmbH. 

NASA operated the Spacelab, which was an integral part of the Space Shuttle program. The Spacelab module provided a shirt-sleeve environment for astronauts to conduct scientific experiments.

The Lunar Gateway, or Gateway, is a space station that will orbit the moon. It will be the first space station to exist outside of low Earth orbit. The Gateway is a key part of NASA’s Artemis program

The Gateway will serve as a solar-powered communication hub and a staging point for deep space exploration. It will also provide support for a long-term human return to the lunar surface. 

The Gateway is a collaboration between the United States, NASA, and the International Space Station (ISS) partners. It has two habitable elements: 

• International Habitation module (I-Hab): Built in Europe, this module combines lab space with bedrooms 
• Habitation and Logistics Outpost (HALO): Developed in the U.S. by Northrop Grumman 

The Gateway will be central to human space exploration goals, including: 

• Lunar surface access 
• Missions to Mars 
• Advancing human space exploration

NASA is leading the Lunar Gateway project. The Gateway will be developed, serviced, and used in collaboration with: 

• CSA: Canadian Space Agency 
• ESA: European Space Agency 
• JAXA: Japan 
• Commercial partners 

NASA has already invested a significant amount of time and money into the project. Construction of the Gateway is scheduled to begin in the next couple of years. 

The Power and Propulsion Element (PPE) module is scheduled to launch on a commercial vehicle in January 2024. The PPE provides power generation and propulsion capabilities.

Here are some of the partners of the Lunar Gateway: 

• European Space Agency (ESA) In 2020, ESA agreed to provide habitation and refueling modules, as well as improved lunar communications. The 2029 Artemis 5 mission will deliver ESA’s ESPRIT refueling and communications module to the Gateway. 
• Canadian Space Agency (CSA) Canada was NASA’s first international partner for the Gateway. The 2029 Artemis 5 mission will deliver a Canadarm2 to the Gateway. 
• Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) NASA has an agreement with JAXA to cooperate on the Gateway, Artemis, and Space Station projects. JAXA is also working with NASA on the logistics and resupply module. 

NASA will contribute the following modules to the Gateway: 

• Power and propulsion element (PPE) 
• US utilization module 
• Logistics and resupply module 
• US habitation module (HALO) 
• Orion crew module

The Lunar Gateway will have the following components: 

• Power and Propulsion Element (PPE): Provides power and propulsion 
• Habitation and Logistics Outpost (HALO): A place for astronauts to live, exercise, and prepare for lunar surface missions 
• Service module 
• Communications module 
• Connecting module 
• Airlock 
• Operations station 
• Deep Space Logistics 
• International Habitation module 
• External Robotics System 
• European System Providing Refueling, Infrastructure and Telecommunications 

The Gateway is expected to weigh around 40 tonnes. 

The Lunar Gateway will serve as a destination for scientific research and astronaut expeditions. It will also be a port for deep space transportation, including spacecraft traveling to Mars and landers going to the moon. The Gateway will also be a science laboratory, a short-term habitation module for government astronauts, and a holding area for robots and rovers.

The Gateway will help NASA and its partners test technologies and capabilities for a sustained human presence in deep space. It will also help NASA chart a path to Mars. 

The Gateway will also allow astronauts to develop techniques for exploring and exploiting the lunar surface. It will also help NASA understand the health effects of solar storms and cosmic radiation on astronauts who live and work outside of Earth’s magnetic field. (Full article source google)

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