Airbus will develop plans for the lunar station in orbit

The aerospace company Airbus must develop plans for the European contribution to a base in orbit around the moon.

The Gateway is an international project that envisions the creation of a lunar station for manned space missions to the Moon or Mars.

The European Space Agency (ESA) has tasked Airbus, which has a large space facility at Stevenage, to develop key concepts for the station over the next 15 months.

The first study will focus on the design of a housing and research module measuring about 6.5 meters and weighing nine tons.

Airbus will also consider refueling, mooring and telecommunication infrastructure projects.

The Defense and Space division of the company builds satellites and sophisticated spacecraft in its Stevenage assembly plant.

BepiColombo, a European spacecraft that is due to take off on Saturday to visit the planet Mercury, was built here.

The United States, Russia, Canada, Japan, and Europe all have a role to play in the Gateway project, led by the US space agency Nasa.

NASA plans to launch the Propulsion Element (PPE) of the Lunar Orbit Base in the early 2020s.

David Parker, Director of Human Exploration and Robotics at ESA, said: "Through these studies and other preparations, the ESA aims to remain at the center of exploration of the human space.

"The Gateway will become the research station furthest away from humanity and we hope that Europe will benefit from the world of innovation, discovery and excitement that's going on." 39; announcement ".

Unlike the International Space Station (ISS), the bridge will not be permanently occupied.

It is intended to serve as a relay for the exploration of the human space and to do the crew when needed.– Press Association