‘The Moon’s first space station’: NASA’s Gateway will change lunar exploration forever
Produced by: Mohsin Shaikh
Credit: Sener
A Moon Base in Orbit
Gateway will be the first permanent space station orbiting the Moon, serving as a staging ground for deep-space missions.
A Global Collaboration
NASA, ESA, Japan, Canada, and the UAE are joining forces to build Gateway, along with private companies like SpaceX, Blue Origin, and Maxar.
Launching in 2027
Gateway’s first two modules, the HALO habitat and PPE propulsion system, are set to launch aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket.
A Year-Long Solo Voyage
Before astronauts arrive, Gateway will spend a year uncrewed in lunar orbit, testing radiation exposure and deep-space survival.
Credit: ESA
Power Like Never Before
Gateway’s solar electric propulsion system will make it the most powerful spacecraft of its kind ever built.
Credit: NASA
The Key to Moon Landings
Astronauts will travel from Gateway to the Moon’s South Pole using SpaceX’s Starship and Blue Origin’s Blue Moon lander.
Prepping for Mars
Gateway will simulate deep-space missions, studying radiation, space weather, and life support systems for future Mars missions.
High-Tech Lunar Communication
ESA is developing Lunar Link, a system that will enable high-speed Moon-to-Earth communication for astronauts.
Credit: ESA
Robotic Helpers & Science Labs
Canada’s Canadarm3 will repair and resupply Gateway, while NASA and international teams will use it as a space lab for experiments.
Credit: Canadian Space Agency