![\"NASA](\"https:\/\/wp-assets.futurism.com\/2019\/05\/nasa-maxar-lunar-gateway-300x158.png\")
<\/div>Sign Here<\/h2>
NASA just picked its first construction partner for the lunar Gateway<\/a>.<\/p> On Thursday, the agency announced<\/a> it had awarded a contract worth a maximum of $375 million to Maxar Technologies<\/a>. The Colorado-based spacetech company will now have the responsibility of developing and demonstrating power, propulsion, and communications capabilities for the Moon-orbiting space station — an integral piece of the lunar Gateway project.<\/p> According to a NASA press release<\/a>, the contract begins with a 12-month base period during which Maxar will design the power and propulsion element, which NASA describes in the release as “a high-power, 50-kilowatt solar electric propulsion spacecraft.”<\/p> After that, NASA can choose to exercise a series of options totaling 64 months for the craft’s development, launch, and in-space flight demonstration.<\/p> This contract is just the first of many NASA will award during the creation of the lunar Gateway. However, according to NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine, it’s an incredibly meaningful one.<\/p> “The power and propulsion element is the foundation of Gateway and a fine example of how partnerships with U.S. companies can help expedite NASA’s return to the Moon with the first woman and next man by 2024,” Bridenstine said in a press release<\/a>. “It will be the key component upon which we will build our lunar Gateway outpost, the cornerstone of NASA’s sustainable and reusable Artemis exploration architecture on and around the Moon.”<\/p> READ MORE:<\/strong> NASA Awards Artemis Contract for Lunar Gateway Power, Propulsion<\/a> [NASA]<\/p> More on Lunar Gateway:<\/strong> NASA’s Plan for a Lunar Outpost Just Leaked<\/a><\/em><\/p> The post NASA Just Hired the First Contractor to Build Lunar Space Station<\/a> appeared first on Futurism<\/a>.<\/p> Here is the original post: Sign Here NASA just picked its first construction partner for the lunar Gateway . On Thursday, the agency announced it had awarded a contract worth a maximum of $375 million to Maxar Technologies . The Colorado-based\u00a0spacetech company will now have the responsibility of developing and demonstrating power, propulsion, and communications capabilities for the Moon-orbiting space station\u00a0\u2014 an integral piece of the lunar Gateway project Continue reading Solar Power<\/h2>
Nearing Liftoff<\/h2>
NASA Just Hired the First Contractor to Build Lunar Space Station<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"