ESA completes Lunar Link hardware testing as NASA pauses Gateway
The European Space Agency has finished testing its Lunar Link communications hardware while exploring new uses following NASA's decision to pause the Lunar Gateway project.
FTMQ Space, written by our newsroom0 views
The European Space Agency has completed the final major integration and testing campaign for its Lunar Link telecommunications element, ESA Exploration and the European Space Agency reported. The testing was conducted at the Thales Alenia Space facility in Cannes, France. [1][2]
Engineers originally developed the hardware to integrate into NASA's Habitation and Logistics Outpost module on the Lunar Gateway. The system was designed to provide vital telecommunications links between the orbiting lunar station and explorers on the Moon surface. [1]
Work on the payload reached completion even as plans for the broader lunar programme changed. The milestone follows antenna testing that took place in March. [1]
Following a decision by NASA earlier this year to pause work on the Gateway, the European Space Agency is now studying how the capabilities of Lunar Link can be repurposed for future lunar missions. [1]
In short
- ESA completed testing on the Lunar Link telecommunications element in Cannes, France.
- Lunar Link was originally planned for NASA's HALO module on the Lunar Gateway.
- ESA is studying new uses for the hardware after NASA paused Gateway development.
Sources
Every paragraph above points to the numbered items it rests on. Read the originals here.
- [1]Lunar Link complete and ready for a new adventureESA Exploration, 18h ago (the report this story comes from)
- [2]Lunar Link complete and ready for a new adventureEuropean Space Agency, 17h ago
Background
- [3]Lunar eclipse on Wikipedia
Our newsroom writes these reports with the help of software, from the 3 sources listed and nothing else, and checks them against those sources. Facts can still be wrong or move on; the originals are the record. Spotted a mistake? Write to daniel@monsterkong.com.
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