International Habitation Module

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International Habitation Module
Mission typeHabitat, command and control module
Spacecraft properties
SpacecraftI-HAB
ManufacturerThales Alenia Space
Start of mission
Launch date2026
RocketSLS
Launch siteKennedy Space Center, LC-39A
 

The International Habitation Module, International Habitat or I-HAB is planned to be the main habitat module of the Lunar Gateway station and will be built by the European Space Agency (ESA) in collaboration with the JAXA.[1][2] Together with the Habitation and Logistics Outpost (HALO) module, they will provide a combined 125 m3 (4,400 cu ft) of habitable volume to the station, after 2024.[3]

Background[]

Concept work on the I-HAB module was started as early as July 2018 by a consortium of companies lead by Airbus and including Thales Alenia Space. Airbus-lead consortium worked with ESA to develop an overall design concept. [4] Airbus and Thales Alenia were also independently contracted in September 2018 to run parallel Phase A/B studies. [4][5][6] Phase A focused on establishing the programs feasibility and Phase B looked to develop a preliminary definition for the module. [4] ESA conducted a Preliminary Requirements Review in November 2018 and the consortium ran its own design meeting in March 2019. This culminated in the development and publication of the System Requirements Document in July 2019, which was built on NASA's requirements for Lunar Gateway. [4]

On 14 October 2020, Thales Alenia announced that they had been selected by ESA to build the I-HAB module.[7] The company will be the prime contractor with responsibility program management, design, fabrication of the primary structure, mechanical and thermal systems, and final integration and testing.[7] Thales Alenia have previously built several modules for the International Space Station (ISS): including the Cupola, the Columbus, Harmony, Tranquility and Leonardo;[8] and was the second largest industrial provider to the ISS.[9] It also built the pressure vessels for the Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV) and Cygnus spacecraft; and the Multi-Purpose Logistics Modules, which were used to transport cargo inside the Space Shuttle orbiters. The expected total cost of the contract with Thales Alenia will be 327 million euros, with the first tranches of payments equal to 36 million euros. [7]

ESA formalised their involvement in the Lunar Gateway on October 27, 2020 with an agreement with NASA. [10]

Design[]

Mission requirements for module specified the need to provide habitation and working space for four astronauts for a duration of 30-90 days. I-HAB will feature four docking ports, two axial ports for connection to other Lunar Gateway elements, including and two radial ports for cargo vehicle and lunar lander vehicle. [4] Due to Lunar Gateway not being permanently inhabited, the module will be optimised for remote operation and maintenance. This maybe achieved through the use of internal robotic interfaces and a robotic arm. [7][4]

The module aims to provide galley facilities; hygiene and waste management systems; exercise equipment; cargo and consumables storage; refrigeration; airlocks; and workstations, monitor and control consoles. [4] The module will feature contributions from the other station partners: Environmental control and life support system, batteries, thermal control, and imagery components will be built and supplied by JAXA; avionics hardware and software will be supplied by US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA); and robotic interfaces will be provided by the Canadian Space Agency (CSA).[11][7] ESA will be responsible for integrating the contribution into the module prior to launch.

I-HAB will feature four docking ports. Two axial ports will be used for connection to other Lunar Gateway elements, including the Habitation and Logistics Outpost and airlock. [4] Two radial docking ports will be used for connection to the European System Providing Refueling, Infrastructure and Telecommunications (ESPIRIT) module and for accommodating visiting cargo vehicles, Orion spacecraft and lunar lander. [4]

While I-HAB is still planned to launch on NASA's Space Launch System, the size and weight of the module has constrained by the possibility of its launch vehicle being switched to SpaceX's Falcon Heavy. [4][7] The inner diameter was reduced from 4.2 meters to 3.4 meters; internal length reduced from 6.6 meters to 5.9 meters. [4] Both of these were a result of: a smaller payload fairing; the need for a separate service vehicle to replace the transport service provided by the Orion spacecraft; and docking targets for the radial ports. [4]

ESA planned to complete the first preliminary design review of the I-HAB in mid-2021. In preparation for this review, Thales Alenia partnered with the European Astronaut Centre to allow ESA astronauts to experience the usable volume and crew accommodations within the habitat. This was achieved via virtual reality. [12]

Cargo
docking port
Solar ArrayHLCS
communications module		ERM
observation port and fuel storage
PPE
propulsion module		HALO
logistics and habitat		I-HAB
logistics and habitat		Orion
docking port
Solar ArrayHLS
docking port

Launch[]

The module is slated to launch in 2026 on the Artemis 4 mission as a co-manifested payload on the Space Launch System Block 1B rocket along with a crewed Orion spacecraft.[13] The module would be located within a Universal Stage Adapter (USA), and attached to a payload adaptor connected to an Exploration Upper Stage (EUS).[14][15] Once the translunar injection burn has been completed, the Orion spacecraft would separate from the USA. The EUS would then rotate away from the Orion spacecraft to allow for the jettison of the USA. The EUS would then rotate back and Orion would dock with the I-HAB module. Following a successful docking, the EUS would then release the I-HAB module from the payload adaptor along with the Orion spacecraft attached. Orion would then be responsible for delivery of the module to the Lunar Gateway in its near-rectilinear halo orbit. [15]

References[]

  1. ^ Funding Europe's space ambitions Archived 29 December 2019 at the Wayback Machine Jeff Foust, The Space Review December 2019
  2. ^ "Lunar Gateway - Satellite Missions - eoPortal Directory". directory.eoportal.org. Retrieved 6 January 2022.
  3. ^ Sloss, Philip (11 September 2018). "NASA updates lunar Gateway plans". NASASpaceFlight.com. Archived from the original on 6 August 2019. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Labidi, M.; Vienna, LIQUIFER Systems Group (1 January 2019). "INTERIOR CONFIGURATION CONCEPTS FOR THE GATEWAY IHAB". Proceedings of the 70th International Astronautical Congress, Washington DC, USA, 21-25 October 2019, IAC-19.E5.1A.1.x49818.
  5. ^ "A first step to make a dream – the exploration of the Moon comes true". Thales Group. Retrieved 6 January 2022.
  6. ^ "Forward to the Moon: Airbus wins ESA studies for future human base in lunar orbit | Airbus". www.airbus.com. Retrieved 6 January 2022.
  7. ^ a b c d e f "Thales Alenia Space on its way to reach the Moon". thalesgroup.com. Retrieved 14 October 2020.
  8. ^ Montrasio, Simone (24 July 2016). "Nuovi Cygnus PCM ordinati alla Thales Alenia Space di Torino". astronautinews.it.
  9. ^ "Exhibitor Spotlight: Thales Alenia Space". Space Tech Expo. 24 November 2016.
  10. ^ Potter, Sean (27 October 2020). "NASA, European Space Agency Formalize Artemis Gateway Partnership". NASA. Retrieved 7 January 2022.
  11. ^ "Europe steps up contributions to Artemis Moon plan". BBC News. 14 October 2020. Archived from the original on 14 October 2020. Retrieved 14 October 2020.
  12. ^ "ESA astronauts Alexander Gerst and Luca Parmitano use their avatars to check out future habitation accommodation on Lunar Gateway". Thales Group. Retrieved 6 January 2022.
  13. ^ "NASA FY 2022 Budget Estimates" (PDF). p. PDF page 97, in-text page DEXP-67. Delivery of I-Hab to the Gateway will be via the SLS Block 1B launch vehicle with Orion providing orbital insertion and docking.
  14. ^ Smith, David Alan (19 December 2018). "Space Launch System (SLS) Mission Planner's Guide". {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  15. ^ a b "SLS Gateway I-Hab Integration Overview" (PDF). NASA Technical Reports Server. NASA. Retrieved 6 January 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
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