- TTTech Aerospace contributes to the European modules for NASA’s Lunar Gateway: The Lunar International Habitation Module (Lunar I-Hab) and Lunar View, a refueling module, both built by Thales Alenia Space and funded through the European Space Agency (ESA).
- This key contribution from ESA to NASA Artemis will use European versions of the TTEthernet networking and computing platforms already implemented in the US-built Gateway modules “PPE” and “HALO”.
Vienna, Austria, October 15, 2024: NASA Artemis aims at bringing humanity back to the Moon and beyond. The Lunar Gateway, a space station in cislunar orbit, is an important part of Artemis. TTTech Aerospace is providing TTEthernet® networking and computing platforms to the European contributions to the Gateway, built by Thales Alenia Space: the International Habitation Module (“Lunar I-Hab”) that will serve as the main accommodation for crew and the base for scientific experiments, and the Lunar View that has several main functions: transporting cargo to the station, providing storage space, supplying propellant to the Gateway’s propulsion system and offering windows for the Gateway. Similar solutions are implemented in the US-built Power and Propulsion Element (PPE) and the Habitation and Logistics Module (HALO) whose pressurized module is built by Thales Alenia Space on behalf of Northrop Grumman, thus ensuring interoperability across the Lunar Gateway by using essentially the same fault-tolerant data network and extremely robust networking equipment. The critical first development stages of this networking and computing platform were supported by ESA as well as the Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG).
“We are excited to work with Thales Alenia Space on such a large project as Lunar I-Hab and Lunar View. For us, this is the first integration of our TTEthernet networking and computing platforms in European-built human spaceflight modules. This was made possible by TTTech Aerospace taking part in ESA’s GSTP activity ‘Elements of TTEthernet-based Avionics’, where we aligned with Thales Alenia Space on their needs and were able to offer them the required TTEthernet equipment directly and via partners,” says Christian Fidi, General Manager, TTTech Aerospace.
For Thales Alenia Space, the Lunar I-Hab is their second TTEthernet-technology based program. Thierry Grassin, Avionics Program Manager at Thales Alenia Space says the selection of TTTech Aerospace as key partner was natural in view of the recognized expertise on this new technology: “The avionics architecture adopted the innovative concept of the TTEthernet digital backbone to ensure the required interoperability within the overall Gateway. It is key for us to benefit from re-use of TTTech Aerospace’s experience gained for the PPE and HALO modules and we rely on TTTech Aerospace for the development and qualification of this new technology to be integrated within the I-Hab main avionics units such as the flight computers and switching units.”
TTTech Aerospace is working in partnership with Beyond Gravity Austria, a well-known supplier for space equipment, on all Lunar Gateway modules. TTTech Aerospace and Beyond Gravity are also providing equipment to Space Application Services, Belgium, that is integrating the TTEthernet switching units needed by Thales Alenia Space. Safety-critical software is delivered directly to Thales Alenia Space in Italy in order to ensure that the electrical power management in the Lunar I-Hab is perfectly integrated into the data communication architecture as well.
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NASA Artemis: Lunar Gateway with Orion (image copyright: Thales Alenia Space)
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Further information
- NASA – Lunar Gateway overview
- ESA‘s contribution to the Lunar Gateway
- NASA astronaut Stan Love at TTTech
- ESA astronaut tests Lunar I-Hab living conditions at Thales Alenia Space
- Thales Alenia Space on its way to reach the Moon
- TTTech Aerospace’s contract – Habitation and Logistics Module (HALO)
- Austrian Ministry of Climate Action (BMK) and Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG) support TTTech Aerospace and Beyond Gravity in winning international space contracts
