SpaceX will engage in cargo transportation to the near-moon station
SpaceX will be the first company to deliver goods to the upcoming Gateway near-moon station.
Gateway is a project of a manned station in lunar orbit, which will allow for missions in orbit and the surface of the moon. NASA, the Canadian Space Agency are participating in the development of the Gateway, and possibly also Roskosmos, the European Space Agency, and the Japan Aerospace Research Agency.
It was assumed that the superheavy rocket SLS would deliver cargo to the orbit of the moon, but its first flight was constantly transferred - and NASA decided to entrust this to American private companies: as it became known, the first such company would be SpaceX.
For this task, SpaceX will develop a new spaceship - Dragon XL. This space truck is capable of transporting goods weighing up to five tons and, having docked with the station, operate in this position for at least a year (although NASA suggests that a number of missions will last only about six months). The device will be launched by the super-heavy launch vehicle Falcon Heavy.
It is expected that in the future, NASA will choose at least one more company for the delivery of goods to Gateway. She and SpaceX will have to get at least two missions.
Gateway is a project of a manned station in lunar orbit, which will allow for missions in orbit and the surface of the moon. NASA, the Canadian Space Agency are participating in the development of the Gateway, and possibly also Roskosmos, the European Space Agency, and the Japan Aerospace Research Agency.
It was assumed that the superheavy rocket SLS would deliver cargo to the orbit of the moon, but its first flight was constantly transferred - and NASA decided to entrust this to American private companies: as it became known, the first such company would be SpaceX.
For this task, SpaceX will develop a new spaceship - Dragon XL. This space truck is capable of transporting goods weighing up to five tons and, having docked with the station, operate in this position for at least a year (although NASA suggests that a number of missions will last only about six months). The device will be launched by the super-heavy launch vehicle Falcon Heavy.
It is expected that in the future, NASA will choose at least one more company for the delivery of goods to Gateway. She and SpaceX will have to get at least two missions.
