Moon Base May Be Gateway to the Solar System

Space ⯀  

The United States and Russia have agreed to co-operate on a NASA-led project to build the first lunar space station, part of a long-term project to explore deep space and send humans to Mars.

The Russian space agency, Roscosmos and NASA have both released statements saying stating the two countries' shared "common vision for human exploration." The agencies signed a joint statement on Wednesday, September 27 at the 68th International Astronautical Congress in Adelaide, Australia.

Related articles

• Back to the Moon in Five Years (and to Stay Too?) 
• Russian Company Plans to Build Base on the Moon 
• NASA and Bigelow Aerospace Look at Private Exploration of the Moon 

NASA already has plans to build the station, 'Deep Space Gateway' in lunar orbit starting in the 2020s.

The American space agency said in a posting that "NASA is leading the next steps into deep space near the moon, where astronauts will build and begin testing the systems needed for challenging missions to deep space destinations including Mars.

"NASA is pleased to see growing international interest in moving into cislunar space as the next step for advancing human space exploration."

"While the deep space gateway is still in concept formulation, NASA is pleased to see growing international interest in moving into cislunar space as the next step for advancing human space exploration," said Robert Lightfoot, NASA's acting administrator at NASA Headquarters in Washington. "Statements such as this one signed with Roscosmos show the gateway concept as an enabler to the kind of exploration architecture that is affordable and sustainable."

Artist concept of the Deep Space Gateway for NASA. Image - NASA/Lockheed

Igor Komarov, General Director of Roskosmos State Corporation stated: "At least five countries are working on the creation of their own manned spacecraft and systems. In order to avoid problems in the future in technical cooperation, part of the standards should be unified - for the possibility for different countries to work on their products and to join the international near-moon station. Part of the key standards will be formed on the basis of Russian developments. The agreements reached open new prospects for international cooperation and expand the opportunities for using the capabilities of the Russian space industry. "

The area of space near the moon offers a true deep space environment to gain experience for human missions that push farther into the solar system, access the lunar surface for robotic missions but with the ability to return to Earth if needed in days rather than weeks or months.

"The area of space near the moon offers a true deep space environment to gain experience for human missions that push farther into the solar system, access the lunar surface for robotic missions but with the ability to return to Earth if needed in days rather than weeks or months."

SOURCE  NASA

By  33rd Square	Embed