Although not a cabinet position, the NASA administrator is nominated by the President of the United States and assigned the task of implementing their overall space policy. As such, a new White House resident has historically resulted in a different long-term assignment for the agency. Some presidents wanted bold programs of reconnaissance, while others NASA had to follow a more reserved and economical path, with the biggest shifts traditionally taking place when the government alternates between the parties.
It is therefore no surprise that the fate of Artemis, a daring program initiated by the previous government, aimed at establishing a sustainable human presence on the Moon, has been considered uncertain since the November election. But the recent announcement that SpaceX has received a $ 331.8 million contract for the launch of the first two modules of the Moon Gateway station, an outpost that will serve as a rallying point for astronauts coming to the lunar surface and go, should help suppress problems. . Although the components are not yet going to fly in 2024 at the earliest, it is a step in the right direction and a strong indication that the new government intends to see Artemis through.
Two for the price of one
The contracted launch is unique in that SpaceX is tasked with launching two separate modules, the Power and Propulsion Element (PPE), built by Maxar Technologies, and the Hropitation and Logistics Outpost (HALO) of Northrop Grumman, on the same rocket. These two core Gateway components, which are essentially a miniature space station themselves, will be paired on the ground at Kennedy Space Center and tested for several months before being loaded onto a Falcon Heavy.
Although the mass of these two modules is very well within the capabilities of the Falcon Heavy, SpaceX will need to develop an extensive payload to develop their combined length. They will also have to build a new mobile portal to launch pad 39A that allows the modules to be attached vertically to the rocket, rather than horizontally, as is the case with all current Falcon and Falcon Heavy launches. The new integration and integration equipment obviously represents a significant investment by SpaceX, but in the long run, the Falcon Heavy will transport major change satellites for the Pentagon and provide the company with a lucrative new revenue stream.
Originally, the PPE and HALO modules would have flown on two separate rockets, possibly even by different launch providers, requiring an autonomous aptitude maneuver after their encounter with the Moon. But to reduce costs and get the Gateway up and running sooner, it was decided to ship both at the same time. This does raise the possibility that a failure could lead to the loss of both modules, but since their functions are so intrinsically linked anyway, NASA believes it’s worth speeding up the program.
Deep Space Legacy
As with many NASA projects, Gateway is the end result of a long and tortuous development process. The PPE is an evolution of the electric propulsion module intended for the agency’s now-canceled Asteroid Redirect Mission, and the idea of sending a small self-contained space station to lunar orbit has its roots in the Deep Space Habitat concept that engineers used it. since the Shuttle’s retirement, NASA’s long-term goals have focused on activities outside the low-ground.
Back in 2017, NASA called this concept the Deep Space Gateway and considered it a stepping stone to distant destinations like Mars. The three initial modules of the Deep Space Gateway would be launched into orbit around the Moon using the upgraded Block 1B variant of the Space Launch System. In this setup, the booster will use the Exploration Upper Stage (EUS) and have enough power to carry a station module and Orion crew capsule in one launch. At that point, commercial launches were only considered for less critical components that would be added later, such as an airlock or an additional lab module.
But the EUS, like the Space Launch System itself, takes much longer to bring online than anyone at NASA expected. Despite the development since 2014, the design only made it through the final review phase a few months ago, and the actual flight hardware is not expected to be completed until at least 2025. but if all goes according to plan, Gateway and a potential outpost on the lunar surface by that time could benefit from the improved cargo capabilities of the SLS.
Competition, or lack thereof
Launching large objects to the Moon and Mars is probably why NASA is building their space launch system in the first place, and according to the current timeline, Gateway will be ready before the mega rocket is capable of delivering any significant amount of cargo. Just like the recent announcement that NASA Europa Clipper on a commercial amplifier, it’s another example of the agency’s homemade vehicle losing a high profile mission to a smaller and cheaper rocket.
At this stage, one of the few obvious uses for the space launch system and its EUS is in the context of the Artemis program to deliver large landers to the moon. Whether they go directly to a lunar orbit or meet with the Gateway, two of the three commercial Human Landing Systems selected by NASA are designed to be launched aboard an SLS Block 1B. Although as a contingency, their main components can also be carried on smaller rockets and assembled in an orbit.
But the third lander, proposed by SpaceX, is a variant of their Starship vehicle that can take off from the earth under its own power and land on the moon. As a completely independent system, it is not necessary for the Gateway or SLS to complete its mission. On the one hand, it’s a clear advantage given how often NASA’s own plans miss their deadlines and move further into the future. There is certainly an argument for sticking so much of the Artemis program on a single contractor.
A long-term sustainable lunar exploration and exploitation program should include a fleet of boosters and spacecraft that are independently designed, manufactured and managed. At present, SpaceX is the only company responsible for launching Gateway and for sending regular retransmissions. Whether it is Old Space or New Space, there is an inherent risk of relying so completely on one entity. But unless something changes in the next few years, that seems to be exactly the situation NASA’s Artemis program could be in.