The Crew and Science Airlock Module is designed as an

airlock An airlock is a room or compartment which permits passage between environments of differing atmospheric pressure or composition, while minimizing the changing of pressure or composition between the differing environments. An airlock consist ...

module of the

Lunar Gateway The Lunar Gateway, or simply Gateway, is a planned space station which is to be assembled in orbit around the Moon. The Gateway is intended to serve as a communication hub, science laboratory, and habitation module for astronauts as part ...

station, to be built by the

Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre The Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC, ) is a Government of Dubai, Dubai Government organization working on the UAE space program, which includes various Satellite, space satellites projects, such as the Emirates Mars Mission, the Emirates ...

Background

The airlock module is meant to facilitate transfers to and from the habitation modules of the Gateway and into the vacuum of space. The airlock module will therefore support deep space science research as well as external Gateway maintenance.

Contract

In January 2024, NASA announced the partnership with MBRSC with whom NASA shares a long-standing partnership. The

UAE The United Arab Emirates (UAE), or simply the Emirates, is a country in West Asia, in the Middle East, at the eastern end of the Arabian Peninsula. It is a federal elective monarchy made up of seven emirates, with Abu Dhabi serving as i ...

, in which the MBRSC is located, was among the initial signatories of the

Artemis Accords The Artemis Accords are a series of non-binding multilateral arrangements between the United States government and other world governments that elaborates on the norms expected to be followed in outer space. The Accords are related to the Artem ...

. Soon after the contract was announced, design work began. As part of the contract, the UAE will be able to send one of their own astronauts aboard a future Artemis mission.

Design and manufacture

The project will occur in a five phased approach: planning, design, qualification, flight preparation and operations. The MBRSC will be responsible for long term management, maintenance and operation of the Airlock. The Airlock will be manufactured by Thales Alenia Space

Launch

The module is slated to launch on the Artemis 6 mission which is currently scheduled for 2031.

References

{{Future spaceflights Lunar Gateway Artemis program Crewed spacecraft Joint ventures Missions to the Moon NASA programs NASA space stations Spacecraft using halo orbits Proposed space stations 2031 in science