SpaceX Chosen by NASA to Carry out A Major Step Towards Humans on Mars.

NASA has selected SpaceX to deliver the first two segments of the moon-

orbiting Gateway space station for its upcoming Artemis program, which

aims to put astronauts back on the moon. The elements will launch atop a

Falcon Heavy rocket, sometime in 2024. It is a contract of about $98.8

Million.

Even a second one is ready which is to be awarded to SpaceX, is none

other than the Flight. It will carry the Gateway's power and habitation

modules. This will cost NASA about $331.8 Million. Once deposited in

lunar orbit, the Gateway will serve as an outpost for astronauts and

equipment heading to the moon. Unlike the International Space Station

that circles our planet in relatively low orbit, the Gateway will be in orbit

around the moon. It will support upcoming astronaut missions to return

to the lunar surface and establish a permanent presence there.

The pair of modules SpaceX will ferry into space is the power and

propulsion element (PPE), which will provide the Gateway with power,

enable the communications and help the station to move to different

lunar orbits.

The second one will be the habitation and logistics outpost (HALO), which

are being built by Maxar Technologies and Northrop Grumman Space Systems, respectively. It will give astronauts a place to stay on their way to the moon. Astronauts traveling to the moon will launch aboard crew-toting capsules, like Orion, and HALO will provide docking support for those vehicles.

The European Space Agency will be providing the service module for the

Gateway, which includes key life support elements, including consumables like oxygen and water, as well as electricity and temperature controls.

Unlike the International Space Station that circles our planet in relatively

low orbit, the Gateway will be in orbit around the moon. It will support

upcoming astronaut missions to return to the lunar surface and establish

a permanent presence there.