Nasa and the European Space Agency (ESA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to take Europe to the Moon.

Europe is moving towards the Moon

ESA Director General Jan Wörner and Nasa Administrator Jim Bridenstine have officially declared the European Space Agency’s involvement with Nasa’s Artemis programme, albeit remotely due to Covid-19 restrictions.

It will include building the next-generation International Space Station, dubbed the Gateway.

Specifically, ESA member states (which include the UK) will contribute a number of elements to the Gateway. They will deliver at least two European Service Modules that provide electricity, water, oxygen and nitrogen to NASA’s Orion spacecraft.

A second contribution called ESPRIT, will supply enhanced communications, refuelling capability and a window, similar to the European-built Cupola observatory on the International Space Station.

ESA will also receive three flight opportunities for European astronauts to travel to and work on the Gateway, says the agency.

“Throughout 20 years of continuous human presence on the International Space Station, we have seen an unparalleled level of cooperation between nations,” said Wörner. “Sustainable space exploration requires coordinated, international efforts and Europe has proven itself a strong and reliable partner.”

“This MoU marks a critical point in Europe’s trajectory: it confirms we are going forward to the Moon, not just in terms of equipment and technology, but also with our people. Europe will play a central role in the new era of global space exploration along with NASA and our partners, delivering exemplary, game-changing architectures to explore the Moon and Mars and inspiring generations to come.”

Previously, Canada formalised its involvement in the international Lunar Gateway programme by committing to build its space robotics system that is dubbed Canadarm3, back in July. It will comprise a smart robotic arm, a small dexterous arm and a set of specialised tools.

The Space Gateway

The Gateway is the next structure to be launched by the partners of the International Space Station.

It will be assembled and operated in the vicinity of the Moon – during the 2020s – where it will move between different orbits. The goal is to enable more distant human space missions. To this end, it will be placed farther from Earth than the current Space Station but not in a lunar orbit.

The ESA says the Gateway will weigh around 40 tonnes and will consist of a service module, a communications module, a connecting module, an airlock for spacewalks, a place for the astronauts to live and an operations station to command the gateway’s robotic arm or rovers on the Moon.