Technicians Install Gateway’s Fuel Tanks
December 2, 2024
NASA engineers and technicians have successfully installed the two fuel tanks that will power the Gateway, a critical component of the agency’s Artemis program. The tanks were attached to the spacecraft’s Power and Propulsion Element (PPE) at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
The fuel tanks, each holding 2,570 gallons of propellant, will provide the Gateway with the fuel it needs to maintain its orbit around the Moon and maneuver to different locations. The tanks are part of the PPE, which also includes solar arrays, radiators, and a propulsion system.
“The installation of these fuel tanks is a major milestone in the development of the Gateway,” said Mike Gold, Gateway program manager at NASA’s Johnson Space Center. “The Gateway will serve as a critical hub for Artemis missions, providing a place for astronauts to live and work while they conduct research on the Moon and prepare for future missions to Mars.”
The Gateway is a modular spacecraft that will be assembled in orbit around the Moon. It will consist of a habitation module, logistics module, airlock, and a docking port. The PPE will provide the Gateway with power, propulsion, and thermal control.
The Artemis program is NASA’s plan to return humans to the Moon by 2024. The Gateway will play a key role in this effort by providing a staging point for lunar missions and a base for scientific research.
The installation of the fuel tanks is the latest in a series of milestones for the Gateway program. Earlier this year, NASA completed the assembly of the PPE and conducted a series of tests on the spacecraft. The Gateway is scheduled to launch in 2024 and begin operations in lunar orbit in 2025.
“The Gateway is a critical component of the Artemis program,” said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson. “The installation of these fuel tanks is a major step forward in our efforts to return humans to the Moon.”
Technicians Install Gateway’s Fuel Tanks
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