Lunar Orbital Platform-Gateway

• USA: NASA - the creation of a part of the station modules, the SLS LV, the Orion manned spacecraft. Commercial transport ships.
• Canada: The Canadian Space Agency has been an official participant since February 2019. Creation of robotic systems ^{[9] [10] [11]} .
• EU: European Space Agency (ESA) - participation in the project is being considered; possible module construction, participation in the construction of NASA modules, and the Orion manned spacecraft, creation of a transport ship using the Arian-6 LV ^[12] .
• Japan: Japan Aerospace Research Agency ^[13] - participation in the project is being considered; the possible creation of the module, the creation of the transport ship "HTV-X" using the LV " H3 ".
• Russia: “ Roscosmos ” ^[14] - as of June 2019 ^[15] , Roscosmos could not reach an agreement on the conditions of the Russian side: “it is possible only on an equal footing and if Roscosmos understands the benefits of such cooperation” ^[16] . At the end of September 2017, a joint statement was signed between Roscosmos and NASA which reported on the planning of work to create a visited station in the lunar space ^[14] . Possible creation of one to three modules: one of which is the most elaborate gateway module, as well as residential ^{[17] [18]} . It is also possible to create a transformable module and an additional energy module ^[19] . Possible development of standards for a universal docking mechanism ^[17] . According to Roscosmos, the use of the Angara-A5 and Proton-M LVs was discussed ^[14] , however, the characteristics of these LVs do not allow significant payloads (less than 4 tons per GSO) to enter the lunar orbit ^{[20] [21]} . According to the statements of Roscosmos, the Yenisei proposed for the development of a super-heavy class LV could be used, inter alia, for cargo delivery and the launch of the Federation manned spacecraft ^[19] .

As of the 3rd quarter of 2017, according to the statement of the head of Roskosmos, participation of the BRICS countries is possible: China , India , Brazil and South Africa ^[18] .

2009

In 2009, a group of industrial contractors participating in the ISS program began a joint study of potential space flights of mankind after the discontinuation of the use of the ISS. The group included: from the USA Boeing and Lockheed Martin , from Russia RSC Energia , from Europe EADS Astrium and Thales Alenia Space , from Canada and from Japan Mitsubishi Heavy Industries ^[22] .

2011

The International Space Exploration Coordination Group ( ISECG), composed of international agencies, as part of the next steps after the use of the ISS, considers the creation of an orbiting lunar station; The first edition of the Global Exploration Roadmap abbr. GER was issued ^[23] .

2012

NASA informed the White House that the possible main candidate for the next large project is the creation of a manned orbital station near the moon, at point L2 . The station will support a small number of astronauts and function as an intermediate site for future missions to the moon and Mars ^{[24] [25]}

2013

• The International Outer Space Coordination Group (ISECG) issued the second edition of the Global Development Roadmap ^[26] .

2014

In 2014, the heads of space partner agencies for the ISS signed a Plan to study the capabilities of the ISS for space exploration and created a working group to study the capabilities of the ISS ( Eng. ISS Exploration Capabilities Study Team abbr. IECST) for its implementation ^[27] .

2015

• March 2015: NASA announces selection of companies for . Three companies were selected as part of the study of the electric motor installation and seven companies as part of the development of the habitat ^{[28] [29]} .
• October 2015: NASA published the concept of the Way to Mars. The concept has three distinct phases. The first stage contains flights in a lunar orbit. The second stage contains manned flights in the lunar space ^{[30] [31]} .
• In 2015, RSC Energia signed contracts with Lockheed Martin and Boeing , in which RSC Energia, together with partner companies, is developing low-orbit flights to support plans of national agencies. In RSC Energia, a conceptual study of the internationally visited platform in the lunar space is carried out ^[27] .

2016

• On August 10, 2016, NASA selected 6 US companies to develop the concept and create full-size ground-based prototypes of the DGS habitat under NextSTEP-2 ^{[32] [33]} .
• October 2016: at a private meeting of the International Spacecraft Working Group abbreviated ISCWG in Houston, representatives from the United States, Russia, Europe, Japan and Canada discussed changes to the concept of the station in orbit of the moon. Also at the meeting, the launch of the first module was postponed for one year - until about 2023 ^{[10] [34]} .

2017

• March 2017 : NASA issued a statement informing about alternative planned initial missions of the newly launched SLS and Orion spacecraft on the Way to Mars, it was previously planned that in the first SLS launches several missions to the asteroid Asteroid Redirect Mission would be carried out. Within the framework of the program, the first stage is the creation of Deep Space Gateway - a station in a lunar orbit consisting of several modules. This station will be created and used in conjunction with commercial and international partners, and will allow them to carry out automatic or manned missions to the moon or to other directions in the solar system. The second step is to create the “ ” - a transportable reusable spacecraft for traveling beyond the orbit of the moon, for example, to Mars. This stage will end with an annual manned flight in the lunar space to confirm the possibility of flights beyond the Earth – Moon system to Mars and other points ^[3] . Partners can also add additional modules in the form of a gateway and a lunar landing module; commercial cargo missions are expected ^[35] .
• June 2017: at the Global Space Research Conference (GLEX 2017) held in Beijing, China, sponsored by NASA, ESA, JAXA, CSA agencies, the concept of the Global Roadmap was proposed by the International Space Research Coordination Group (ISECG) ( GER) which, in addition to automatic moon landings, considered including the commission of five manned moon landings since 2028 ^{[36] [37]} . Also, the Japanese agency JAXA declares the desire to land a Japanese astronaut on the moon in 2030 from a near-moon station ^[38] .
• September 27, 2017: Roskosmos and NASA at the 68th International Congress on Astronautics held in Adelaide (Australia) signed a joint statement on cooperation in the field of research and exploration of deep space ^[39] . In a statement, they confirmed interaction in the research of the international lunar program: the creation of the visited space platform near the moon Deep Space Gateway, standardization of scientific missions in the lunar orbit and on the lunar surface ^[14] A joint statement of intent was signed on intentions to work on the project of the lunar station, but the agreement itself serious study already at the state level ^[17] .
• October 2017 The head of Roscosmos Igor Komarov said that working groups have been set up in Russia and the United States to discuss the configuration of the near-moon station Deep Space Gateway ^[40] , the docking centers and gateways will be made according to Russian standards ^{[14] [41]} . Russian experts will create a gateway module designed for spacewalks; module launch is scheduled for 2026 ^[42] .
• November 2017: NASA, as part of the NextSTEP program, selected five US companies to conduct research on propulsion and energy elements that could be used in the DSG; the study is being carried out to meet the demand for a 50 kW solar energy engine ( Eng. abbr. SEP ) consisting of solar panels and ion engines ^{[43] [44] [45] [46]} .

2018

• January 2018 : The ISECG International Coordination Group for Outer Space Research, which includes 14 space agencies, issued the third edition of the Global Exploration Roadmap abbr. GER, which discusses the creation of an orbiting lunar station. In addition to creating an orbital station, it also considers international manned missions to the lunar surface ^{[47] [48]} .
• January 2018: US NASA and Japanese JAXA signed a joint statement on space exploration, in which they confirmed the goal of expanding their cooperation in the development of the DSG concept in lunar orbit ^[13] .

• In February 2018, within the framework of the annual budget of NASA, introduced the new name for the created near-moon platform Lunar Orbital Platform - Gateway . She also announced plans to launch the first module using a commercial vehicle in 2022, the Orion manned spacecraft with a residential module in 2023 ^[49] . Possible crew missions to the lunar surface are not ruled out. Complex robotic missions are also being developed. Commercial supply logistics missions are planned where cargo ships will be able to dock with the station during its unmanned flight ^[4] .
• March 2018: JAXA and ESA signed a joint space exploration statement supporting the development concept described in the third edition of the Global Development Roadmap including the creation of the DSG ^[50] .
• April 2018: different versions were expressed in Russia regarding participation in the international program: President of the Russian Federation V. Putin ^[51] , General Director of Roscosmos Igor Komarov ^[52] , Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin ^[53] , Executive Director of the State Corporation Roscosmos »On manned space programs by Sergey Krikalyov ^{[54] [55]} . Statements were also published in the media: “ ... we ... do not have a program of our participation in this project approved at the level of Roskosmos or the government. All negotiations are being conducted so far at the initiative of enterprises and institutes of the rocket and space industry of Russia ” ^[56] .
• August 2018: NASA and JAXA sign a joint statement on joint efforts to explore the moon and beyond ^[57] .
• September 2018. ESA has signed contracts for the study of the European elements of the ESPRIT (European System Providing Refuelling, Infrastructure and Telecommunications) and I-HAB (International - Habitat) stations with Thales Alenia Space ^[58] and Airbus ^[59]
• September 2018: According to the statement of the head of Roscosmos D. Rogozin, Russia refused to participate in a joint project with NASA to create the Gateway near-moon station in its current form, since it cannot afford to participate in the American project in the background, as Russia is creating its own transport system and may create its own or international lunar scientific station, including with the BRICS countries ^{[60] [61]} , a further statement on the refusal of cooperation with the USA in the project was refuted ^{[62] [63]} .
• October 2018: D. Rogozin said that Russia could continue to cooperate with the United States on the creation of a near-moon station, and Russia could also build a transport system for flights to the moon in 6-7 years using Angara-A5 from the Vostochny spaceport and the Soyuz manned spacecraft MS ", which can be used as a backup, second, transport system of American flights to the moon ^[64] .

2019

• January 2019: Head of Roskosmos D. Rogozin said that NASA is asking the Russian side to develop a version of the Soyuz spacecraft that can fly to the moon in order to create a second backup transport system ^{[65] [66] [67]} . According to the Russian source, the lunar version of the “Union” will be developed without the financial participation of the United States ^[68] . The scheme of using a special version of the Soyuz MS spacecraft from the orbit of the ISS is considered . The flight module will consist of the Soyuz MS spacecraft and the upper stage, which will be delivered to the ISS by two launches of Soyuz-2.1a launch vehicles. The flight module will be assembled in space under the control of the crew of the ISS Russian segment ^{[69] [70]} . The creation of the Federation ship is being considered in parallel with the modernization of the Soyuz spacecraft for flights to the Moon ^[71] .
• February 2019: The Government of Canada officially announced its participation in the project and financing for participation in it, including the provision of the Canadarm 3 robotic system, which will include a robotic arm, equipment and specialized tools ^{[9] [72]} . Canada is the first international partner of the USA in the near-moon station ^[73] .
• April 2019: In connection with the plans of the US government to transfer the manned landing on the Moon from 2028 to 2024 and the Artemis program, NASA proposed reducing the number of NASA modules by the time of the manned landing on the Moon to two modules: an electric module (Power and Propulsion Element) and a small residential module with docking nodes (US Utilization Element); other NASA modules will be delivered later ^{[74] [75]} .
• May 2019: The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan (MEXT) signed an agreement with NASA on intentions to collaborate on the near-moon station and the lunar surface and announced that the Japanese government will announce its participation in this project by the end of the year. Currently, only Canada is an official participant in the project, in addition to the United States ^{[76] [77] [78]} .

• May 2019: NASA signed a contract with Maxar Technologies based on the results of the competition for the creation of the module of the PPE station; it is planned to launch the module in 2022. After a successful test operation, NASA may purchase a module for use ^[79] .
• July 2019: NASA chose Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems to create a Small Residential Module based on the results of the tender for the creation of the station module; it is planned to launch the module in the 4th quarter of 2023 ^[80] . Formerly US Utilization Element.

• Electric Motor Module ( Eng. Power and Propulsion Element abbreviated. PPE ) - The first NASA module. In May 2019, Maxar Technologies (previously SSL) won the tender for the development and provision of the module, with which a contract worth $ 375 million was signed ^[81] . Also in the creation of the module will take part Blue Origin and Draper. It is stated that the module design is based on a class 1300 platform, solar panels are based on ROSA, the power of an electrodynamic engine powered by solar panels is about 50 kW ^[82] ; communication systems ^{[4] [83]} will also be located on it; module weight at launch 5000 kg ^[84] ; module launch is scheduled for late 2022; after a period of successful operation of the module by its supplier in the lunar orbit, NASA may purchase it for use as the first element of the station ^[79] . In a request issued in July 2017, it is indicated that the module within the station concept will have ionic as well as chemical engines using hydrazine , a tank containing 2000 kg of xenon for ion engines, and have a minimum of 15 year service life, also the mass should not exceed 7.5 tons to be launched on LV SLS ^{[85] [86]} ; in November 2017, a list of participants in the module development study was announced: Space Systems Loral, Boeing, Sierra Nevada Space Systems, Lockheed Martin, Orbital ATK ^[87] , in September 2018 the final set of documents was released, which indicated the launch on a commercial rocket in 2022 ^[88] .
• Small Residential Module ( Eng.Minimal Habitation Module abbr. MHM ) - NASA's second module as part of the station as part of the Artemis program needed for a manned landing in 2024. In July 2019, Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems was selected as the manufacturer of the module, without a contract at that time. The module is created on the basis of the Signus ship, created together with the company Thales Alenia Space previously participating in the creation of the Multipurpose supply module and ATV cargo ship. Two axial and up to two radial docking ports. Thanks to the module, a crew of 4 can stay at the station for up to 30 days. Starting no earlier than the 4th quarter of fiscal year 2023 ^{[80] [89] [90]} . Formerly US Utilization Element
• ( Eng. European System Providing Refuelling, Infrastructure and Telecommunications abbreviated ESPRIT ) - created by ESA ^[83]
• International residential module ( Eng. International Habitation module abbr. I-HAB ) - a residential module created by international partners of the United States, jointly European and Japanese agencies ^[91] . Thanks to the residential module, a crew can stay at the station for a period of 30 to 60 days ^[4] .
• The American residential module ( eng. US Habitation module abbreviated US-HB ) is a residential module created by the USA ^{[91] [92] [92] [93]} .
• Logistics Module ( Eng. Logistics Module ) - various supply modules created by the United States and international partners ^[4] .
• ( born Robotic Arm ) - created by Canada ^[4]
• Airlock Module - In the case of Russian participation, it is planned that the Russian version of the module for spacewalks will be created on the basis of the Pirs and Node modules developed for the ISS. The module will be created to American standards - for voltage in the mains, system interfaces. The module will also be managed through American systems. Various options for launching the module are considered: on SLS or on Angara-5M; in the case of launching on Angara-5M, the mass of the module is 4.6 tons ^[42] .
• ( English Sample Return Vehicle ) -

It is planned that the station modules will be delivered to a lunar orbit using American commercial launch vehicles ^[49] , also with the Orion spacecraft Launch System ^[94] . Roscosmos did not rule out the possibility of using Russian Proton-M and Angara-A5M missiles ^[14] , as well as super-heavy rockets, to launch Russian modules.

Planned Events

• 2022 - Artemis 2 (formerly EM-2) launch of the Orion ship ^[75]
• 2022 - launch of the PPE electric motor module on the American commercial launch vehicle ^{[49] [95]}
• 2023 - launch of the Small Residential Module MHM, US commercial launch vehicle is considered ^[90]
• 2024 - launch of elements of the lander on American commercial vehicles ^[75]
• 2024 - Artemis 3 launch of the Orion ship with a logistics module and landing on the moon ^[75]
• ...

It is planned that the crews will be delivered to the station by Orion ships using the Space Launch System rocket.

The crew of the near-moon station, unlike the ISS crew, will not be protected from cosmic radiation by the Earth’s magnetic field due to the remoteness of the station from the planet.

• In December 2017, the Space Council of the Russian Academy of Sciences instructed specialized research institutes to conduct large-scale studies of the effects of cosmic radiation on the human body, to launch large-scale research in the field of neuroradiobiology, and to deal with the problems of radiation protection outside the Earth ^[96] .

NASA’s budget for the Lunar Orbital Platform - Gateway section for 2019 is $ 504.2 million, ^{[97] [98]} . For 2020, in March 2019, it was planned to allocate 821 million ^[99] , but later, as part of the landing in 2024, the planned allocation of funds by the White House was reduced by 321 million to $ 500 million ^[100] .

In the USA

An engineer, a popularizer of astronautics and the founder of the Martian community, Robert Zubrin, in his article “NASA's Worst Plan”, expressed the opinion that the USA does not need a lunar station, since it does not help to reach the Moon or Mars, or to get to an asteroid, he also believed that if the US needs a station on the moon, then it must be built on its surface ^[101] .

In Russia

Candidate of Technical Sciences, corresponding member of the public organization of the Russian Academy of Cosmonautics named after K.E. Tsiolkovsky, Andrei Ionin, believed that the new station would be under the control of the United States, although he admitted the possibility that certain works could be ordered from Russia and still believed that despite the declared international cooperation, all other countries would be in second cast ^[102] .

Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin recommended that Roskosmos and Rosatom corporations temporarily refrain from new contracts with countries that imposed sanctions against Russian entrepreneurs in order to prevent the United States from receiving technology for creating gateway modules ^[103] .

Sergey Krikalev , Director of Roscosmos State Corporation for Manned Space Programs, considered this US initiative as a new international and continuation of the ISS program and believed that it would be based on the same principles of partnership and equality of participants ^[54] .

The head of the Center for Manned Programs of the Central Research Institute of Mechanical Engineering , Doctor of Technical Sciences Georgy Karabadzhak, for some reason believed that a station in the orbit of the moon would be needed only after Russia had infrastructure on the satellite’s surface ^[104] . He also thought that the decision to create a station in orbit was made because of the United States, which changed its plans according to which the Americans should move towards Mars ^[104] . But the task was more difficult than they expected, and taxpayers demanded a report, which served as an impetus for the creation of another international project ^[104] . Karabadzhak insisted that international cooperation, due to the high cost, risks of exploitation and exchange of technologies, is a necessity ^[104] .

• Moon exploration
• Space exploration
• Cosmonautics of Russia
• U.S. Space