{"id":18464,"date":"2018-06-21T22:07:48","date_gmt":"2018-06-21T14:07:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp-productionenv-bjg9h2g2bgg5b8aa.southeastasia-01.azurewebsites.net\/news\/nasa-puts-out-the-call-for-partners-to-build-the-first-piece-of-gateway-space-station\/"},"modified":"2018-06-21T22:07:48","modified_gmt":"2018-06-21T14:07:48","slug":"nasa-puts-out-the-call-for-partners-to-build-the-first-piece-of-gateway-space-station","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/news\/nasa-puts-out-the-call-for-partners-to-build-the-first-piece-of-gateway-space-station\/","title":{"rendered":"NASA puts out the call for partners to build the first piece of Gateway space station"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Solar
An artist\u2019s conception shows a spacecraft that incorporates a solar electric propulsion system. (NASA Illustration)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

NASA has laid out its plan for acquiring the first piece of its successor to the International Space Station, an outpost known as the Gateway that will be stationed in lunar orbit.<\/p>\n

A draft solicitation, published today, calls for commercial partners to build one or more candidates to serve as the Gateway\u2019s power and propulsion element, with launch set for 2022.<\/p>\n

The Power and Propulsion Element would have a high-power, 50-kilowatt solar electric propulsion system capable of maintaining the Gateway\u2019s position and moving it between different lunar orbits as needed. The spacecraft would also serve as the Gateway\u2019s communications hub.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s be an in-space flight demonstration of the commercial spacecraft, lasting for up to a year. Then NASA could exercise an option to acquire one spacecraft for use as the first element of the Gateway.<\/p>\n

As the years progress, habitats and other modules would be added to the Gateway \u2014 which is envisioned as a platform for trips down to the lunar surface, and outward to Mars and other deep-space destinations.<\/p>\n

The arrangement follows the public-private partnership model that NASA has used for cargo and crew transport services to the International Space Station.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe believe partnering with U.S. industry for the power and propulsion element will stimulate advancements in commercial use of solar electric propulsion and also serve NASA exploration objectives,\u201d Michele Gates, director of the Power and Propulsion Element project at NASA Headquarters in Washington, said today in a news release. \u201cOur goal here is to gain input from industry on the draft solicitation to enable release of the final later this summer.\u201d<\/p>\n