UAE Starts Construction of Gateway Lunar Space Station

Construction has commenced on the Gateway Lunar Space Station, featuring a crucial airlock supplied by the UAE. Salem Al Marri, Director General of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC), announced this development on social media. Al Marri expressed excitement, stating that work on the station began after the UAE’s commitment to the project. Collaboration with NASA’s Johnson Space Center and the initiation of the #EmiratesAirlock construction marked the project’s early stages.

Al Marri emphasized the significance of the UAE’s involvement in building the first lunar station. He acknowledged the collaborative efforts with NASA, ESA, CSA, and JAXA, expressing confidence in achieving ambitious goals. A mockup of the Lunar Gateway’s Habitation and Logistics Outpost (HALO) was showcased, illustrating progress.

Accompanied by the Minister of Youth and astronaut Sultan AlNeyadi, astronaut Hazzaa AlMansoori, Nora AlMatrooshi, and Mohammed Al Mulla, Al Marri held meetings with NASA officials to further collaboration on the Gateway Lunar Space Station.

The lunar space station contributes to NASA’s extended Moon exploration under the Artemis program. The UAE’s space engineers aim to construct a 10-tonne ‘Crew and Science’ airlock, serving as the astronauts’ entry and exit point. Al Marri anticipates completion by 2030, emphasizing the airlock’s pivotal role in the project.

The Gateway, primarily built by the US, Europe, Canada, Japan, and the UAE, operates in a near-rectilinear halo orbit around the Moon, facilitating landings in the southern polar region. Construction involves deploying a propulsion element and habitation module aboard a Falcon Heavy, with the first two modules expected to launch in 2025 and the Emirates Module in 2030.

Al Marri highlighted the uniqueness of the project, being the first time in human history that a space station is built around the Moon. Drawing on the International Space Station’s (ISS) experience, NASA and its partners aim to apply lessons learned to the Gateway.

Acknowledging the challenges, Al Marri stressed the complexity of space endeavors, emphasizing the transition from lunar landings to building a station around the Moon. Despite engineering, technical, schedule, and scientific challenges, the commitment to overcoming obstacles was emphasized.

The Gateway Lunar Space Station’s construction, features the UAE’s pivotal contribution through the airlock, marking a historic collaboration with global space agencies. The project is aligned with NASA’s Artemis program and aims to extend human exploration of the Moon. Challenges are acknowledged, but the dedication of the MBRSC team and collaboration with international partners instill confidence in achieving the ambitious goals of establishing a lunar space station by 2030.