View source for European System Providing Refueling, Infrastructure and Telecommunications

{{short description|Planned module of the Lunar Gateway}}
{{redirect|ESPRIT|EU-sponsored information technology programmes|European Strategic Programme on Research in Information Technology (ESPRIT)}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2021}}
{{Infobox spaceflight
| name              = European System Providing Refueling, Infrastructure and Telecommunications
| names_list        =
| image             =
| image_caption     =
| image_size        =
| mission_type      = [[Lunar Gateway|Habitat, communications and storage modules]]
| operator          =
| COSPAR_ID         = <!--spacecraft launched since 1963 only (aka NSSDC ID; eg. 1998-067A)-->
| SATCAT            = <!--satellite catalogue number, omit leading zeroes (e.g. 25544)-->
| website           = [https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Human_and_Robotic_Exploration/Gateway_Lunar_View Gateway: ESPIRIT]
| mission_duration  =
| spacecraft        =
| manufacturer      = [[Thales Alenia Space]]
| launch_mass       =
| dimensions        =
<!--| diameter       = {{cvt|3.4|m}}-->
<!--| volume         = {{cvt|10|m3}} (habitable vol.)<ref name="esaArtemis4" />-->
| power             =
| orbit_reference   = [[Near-rectilinear halo orbit]]
| launch_date       = 2027 (HLCS)<br />2030 (ERM)
| launch_rocket     = [[Space Launch System|SLS]]
| launch_site       = [[Kennedy Space Center]], [[Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39B|LC-39B]]
| launch_contractor =
|programme = [[Lunar Gateway]]
|previous_mission = [[International Habitation Module|I-HAB]]
|next_mission = [[Crew and Science Airlock Module]]
}}
The '''European System Providing Refueling Infrastructure and Telecommunications''' ('''ESPRIT''') is an under construction module of the [[Lunar Gateway]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Gateway: Lunar Link |url=https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Human_and_Robotic_Exploration/Gateway_Lunar_Link |access-date=2024-04-05 |website=www.esa.int |language=en}}</ref> It will provide refueling through additional xenon and hydrazine capacity for use in the [[Power and Propulsion Element]]'s [[ion engines]] and hydrazine thrusters. It will also provide additional communications equipment, a habitation area, and storage.<ref name=esa_esprit>{{cite web|date=September 30, 2022|title=Gateway: ESPRIT|url=https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Human_and_Robotic_Exploration/Gateway_ESPRIT|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221110123328/https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Human_and_Robotic_Exploration/Gateway_ESPRIT|archive-date=10 November 2022|access-date=19 December 2022|publisher=European Space Agency}}</ref><ref name="nsf-20180911">{{cite web|last=Sloss|first=Philip|date=September 11, 2018|title=NASA updates lunar Gateway plans|url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2018/09/nasa-lunar-gateway-plans/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190806063256/https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2018/09/nasa-lunar-gateway-plans/|archive-date=6 August 2019|access-date=15 September 2018 |publisher=NASASpaceFlight.com}}</ref><ref name=":0"/><ref name=":1"/> It will have a launch mass of approximately {{cvt|10000|kg}}, a length of {{cvt|6.4|m}}, and a diameter of {{cvt|4.6|m}}.<ref name=esa_esprit/> [[European Space Agency|ESA]] awarded two parallel design studies for ESPRIT, one mostly led by [[Airbus]] in partnership with [[Compagnie maritime d'expertises|Comex]] and [[OHB]]<ref>[https://comex.fr/en/2018/11/21/comex-and-airbus-join-forces-around-a-module-of-the-future-lunar-station/ Comex and Airbus join forces around a module of the future lunar station.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190729152604/https://comex.fr/en/2018/11/21/comex-and-airbus-join-forces-around-a-module-of-the-future-lunar-station/|date=29 July 2019}} ''Comex'' press release, 21 November 2018</ref> and one led by [[Thales Alenia Space]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Back to the Moon, a step towards future exploration missions|date=5 August 2019 |url=https://www.thalesgroup.com/fr/monde-espace/orbital-infrastructure-and-space-transport/magazine/retour-lune-pas-vers-nouvelles|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201022063112/https://www.thalesgroup.com/fr/monde-espace/orbital-infrastructure-and-space-transport/magazine/retour-lune-pas-vers-nouvelles|archive-date=22 October 2020|access-date=7 August 2020}}</ref> The construction of the module was approved in November 2019.<ref name="SR_Dec2019">[https://www.thespacereview.com/article/3843/1 Funding Europe's space ambitions.] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191229115217/https://www.thespacereview.com/article/3843/1|date=29 December 2019}} Jeff Foust ''The Space Review'' December 2019</ref><ref name="Hebden_Nov2019">[https://room.eu.com/news/hera-mission-is-approved-as-esa-receives-biggest-ever-budget Hera mission is approved as ESA receives biggest ever budget.] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191210155035/https://room.eu.com/news/hera-mission-is-approved-as-esa-receives-biggest-ever-budget|date=10 December 2019}} Kerry Hebden, ''Room' 29 November 2019''</ref> On 14 October 2020, Thales Alenia Space announced that they had been selected by ESA to build the ESPRIT module.<ref name=":0">{{cite news|date=2020-10-14|title=Europe steps up contributions to Artemis Moon plan |publisher=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-54537906|url-status=live|access-date=14 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201014104207/https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-54537906|archive-date=14 October 2020}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{cite web|title=Thales Alenia Space on its way to reach the Moon|url=https://www.thalesgroup.com/en/worldwide/space/press-release/thales-alenia-space-its-way-reach-moon|access-date=14 October 2020|website=thalesgroup.com|date=14 October 2020 }}</ref>
The module is currently slated to launch as a co-manifested payload on [[Artemis V]] in 2030. 1.5 tons of cargo will be packed inside the module for launch.<ref name=esa_esprit />
== Configuration ==
The ESPRIT module will consist of two parts, the Halo Lunar Communication System (HLCS) and the ESPRIT Refueling Module (ERM).
=== Halo Lunar Communication System (HLCS) ===
The Halo Lunar Communication System (HLCS) will provide communications for the station, allowing it to transmit data to and receive data from other spacecraft on and around the Moon. It will launch in 2027 pre-attached to the [[Habitation and Logistics Outpost|HALO]] module, for which Thales has separately been awarded a contract by [[NASA]] to construct its hull and micrometeoroid protection. The HLCS will measure {{cvt|2.5|m}} in both length and width, have a mass of {{cvt|270|kg}}, and feature two {{cvt|125|cm}} dish antennas. These will allow HLCS to achieve a data rate of up to 25&nbsp;Mbps.
Because of its two dishes, the system will be able to communicate with two different targets (including spacecraft landing on the Moon or operating around Gateway) at once in S- or K-band radio frequencies.<ref name=esa_esprit/>
ESA now refers to the ESPRIT HLCS as '''Lunar Link'''.<ref>https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Human_and_Robotic_Exploration/Gateway_Lunar_Link</ref>
=== ESPRIT Refueling Module (ERM) ===
The ESPRIT Refueling Module (ERM) will contain the propellant tanks, docking ports, and a small windowed habitation corridor.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> The interior of the module will primarily be used for storage, although it will feature one workstation for astronaut use and six windows. The workstation and windows will be useful for photographing the lunar surface, controlling [[Canadarm3]], and monitoring docking spacecraft. The module features two docking ports, meaning that once it docks to the [[Habitation and Logistics Outpost|HALO module]], resupply craft and other vessels can dock to ESPRIT. These can include future propellant tankers to further refuel Gateway if needed. The ERM also features batteries and small surface-mounted solar panels to power the module on its way to the Moon.
A small science airlock was planned for the module during early designs in order to transfer scientific payloads outside the Gateway, but recent designs lack the airlock.
The ERM is scheduled to launch on an [[Space Launch System|SLS]] Block 1B launch vehicle in 2030, along with [[Artemis V]].<ref name="fy25-m2m">{{cite web |url=https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/fy-2025-budget-request-summary-updated.pdf |title=FY 2025 Budget Request {{!}} FY 2025 President's Budget Request Moon to Mars Manifest |page=6 |work=[[NASA]] |date=15 April 2024 |access-date=31 July 2024}}</ref><ref name="sn-20230313">{{cite web |last=Foust |first=Jeff |url=https://spacenews.com/nasa-planning-to-spend-up-to-1-billion-on-space-station-deorbit-module/ |title=NASA planning to spend up to $1 billion on space station deorbit module |work=[[SpaceNews]] |date=13 March 2023 |access-date=13 March 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Foust |first=Jeff |url=https://spacenews.com/nasa-foresees-gap-in-lunar-landings-after-artemis-3/ |title=NASA foresees gap in lunar landings after Artemis 3 |work=[[SpaceNews]] |date=20 January 2022 |access-date=20 January 2022}}</ref> Packed inside the module will be approximately 1.5 tons of cargo for ESPRIT and Gateway operations. Orion will dock to ESPRIT following launch and deliver it to Gateway.<ref name=esa_esprit />
== See also ==
{{Portal|Spaceflight}}
* [[Power and Propulsion Element]], a core module of the Gateway that will power ESPRIT once docked and maintain the station's orbit
* [[Habitation and Logistics Outpost]], the first habitation module of Gateway, featuring the port that ESPRIT will dock to
* [[International Habitation Module]], the second habitable module of Gateway
== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}
{{Future spaceflights}}
[[Category:Lunar Gateway]]
[[Category:2020s in spaceflight]]