NASA draws up plan to set up first permanent base on the Moon, ropes in Italian space agency to help

NASA has drawn up plans to set up a permanent base on the Moon and is roping in France’s Thales Alenia Space and the Italian Space Agency (ASI) to help them build it. This will be a key element in NASA’s Artemis mission. The dream of establishing a permanent lunar base has been a recurring theme in science fiction, notably portrayed in iconic films like “2001: A Space Odyssey” and TV series like “Space: 1999.” On November 23, Thales Alenia Space announced a contract with ASI to develop the Multi-Purpose Habitat (MPH), a crucial component of NASA’s Artemis program aimed at establishing a sustainable long-term human presence on the Moon. While specific costs and deployment timelines were not provided, the module is not expected to reach the lunar surface before the 2030s. The MPH project marks a historic milestone as the first Italian habitation module designed to operate on the lunar surface. Franco Fenoglio, head of human planetary exploration and robotics programs at Thales Alenia Space, expressed pride in the company’s technical and organizational capabilities to overcome the challenges posed by such an endeavour. The collaboration between NASA and ASI on this project began in 2020 with a joint statement of intent supporting the Artemis program. The initial agreement focused on developing crew habitation capabilities and related technologies for short-term lunar stays. In June 2022, ASI signed an agreement with NASA to conduct a preliminary design of the module. The project achieved a significant milestone in October by passing NASA’s Element Initiation Review, leading ASI to assign Thales Alenia Space the responsibility of further developing the lunar base. The MPH, as depicted in an image released by Thales Alenia Space, features a cylindrical design with telescopic legs and solar arrays. While details are limited, the pressurized module appears to be approximately 33 feet (10 meters) in length. This lunar base will serve as a starting point for Artemis astronauts, enabling missions to conduct experimental science in the lunar environment, deploy and test new technologies, and investigate potential exploration risks. Additionally, it could lay the groundwork for NASA’s proposed lunar base camp, accommodating up to four astronauts at a time. The next significant step for the project is the Mission Concept Review scheduled for the first quarter of 2024. This review is crucial for advancing to subsequent phases, focusing on developing critical technologies for extended lunar stays. Thales Alenia Space’s responsibilities include forming an industrial consortium to move the project into its implementation phase. Notably, the company is also working on developing three pressurized modules for the Lunar Gateway, a planned space station orbiting the Moon. While the project represents a small step, it is a crucial one, bringing us closer to realizing the lunar bases once confined to the realm of science fiction. This foundational multi-functional lunar habitat is a promising start toward humanity’s long-envisioned presence on the Moon. (With input from agencies)