Speaker
Description
The Lunar Gateway, a key component of NASA's Artemis Program, is designed to function as a versatile outpost orbiting the Moon, featuring communication relay capabilities for lunar assets. The European Space Agency (ESA) contributes to this program through the European System Providing Refueling Infrastructure and Telecommunications (ESPRIT), which includes the Lunar Link (also known as the HALO Lunar Communication System - HLCS) and the ESPRIT Refueling Module (ERM). The Lunar Link is dedicated to establishing radio-frequency (RF) communication links with spacecraft traveling to or around the Moon, as well as with assets on the lunar surface. It will be installed on the Habitation and Logistic Outpost (HALO) module, scheduled for launch in 2027 alongside the Power and Propulsion Element (PPE) as part of the Co-Manifested Vehicle (CMV) stack. This paper introduces the overall context of the Gateway and the purpose of the Lunar Link, detailing its system capabilities and services. Additionally, it presents the performance metrics of the RF links, including data rates and lunar asset auto-tracking capabilities, along with the current status and preliminary results of the ongoing Lunar Link flight model integration and test campaign.