The Gateway will be a lunar-orbiting outpost and is the NASA replacement for the International Space Station. The module will eventually involve living quarters, laboratory space, and mission support infrastructure. Basically, supporting astronauts conducting long-duration missions. These include, potentially, a future human mission to Mars.
IBDM
To give it its full name: the International Berthing and Docking Mechanism (IBDM).
The lunar-orbiting outpost is the NASA replacement for the International Space Station. It will involve living quarters, laboratory space, and mission support infrastructure.
Four such docking systems will be in production by Redwire Corporatation’s Belgian subsidiary, Redwire Space NV. It received the contract from the project’s prime contractor, Thales Alenia Space, which is the joint venture between Thales (67%) and Leonardo (33%).
Lunar I-Hab
“We are honored to be selected by Thales Alenia Space to provide this critical capability for the Lunar I-Hab module,” said Mike Gold, President of Civil and International Space at Redwire. “With decades of flight heritage, Redwire Europe is thrilled to play a vital role developing organic capability as the European market pivots toward increased independence in space and defense.”
The IBDM will enable “safe transfers of crew and cargo, supporting continuous operations and missions” within the Gateway station. Redwire says the system uses advanced automation, precision alignment, and multiple redundancies to safeguard the station and crew members.
Image: Redwire
See also: ELVIS, the holographic microscope
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