Thales Alenia Space has signed a contract with the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre to design and develop the Emirates Crew and Science Airlock Module for the upcoming Lunar Gateway cislunar space station. Signed in Abu Dhabi, the agreement is expected to strengthen the United Arab Emirates’ space program and scientific and engineering communities.
According to the Thales-Leonardo joint venture, the Emirates airlock will allow astronauts to perform spacewalks, transfer research materials and equipment, and provide an additional docking location for visiting spacecraft. It will also provide storage and maintenance space for extravehicular activity suits and tools, along with a dedicated science airlock for experiments and hardware transfers between the station’s interior and space.
Thales Alenia Space CEO Hervé Derrey highlighted the importance of the airlock in enabling extravehicular activities. “We are delighted to accompany the MBRSC and the UAE’s bold vision in space exploration and support their commitment to international partners,” he said. “This new contract emphasizes even more Thales Alenia Space’s leading positions in the fields of space transportation systems, orbital infrastructures and deep space exploration.”
First Lunar Space Station
The Emirates airlock is the fifth pressurized module that Thales Alenia Space will develop for the Lunar Gateway. The French global space manufacturer previously designed the Lunar-View, Lunar-Link and Lunar I-HAB for the European Space Agency and the module for NASA’s Habitation and Logistics Outpost.
The airlock is expected to undergo mission concept, system requirements and preliminary design reviews this year. Meanwhile, NASA said Gateway, the first international space station around the moon, is set to launch by September 2028.
This contract follows Thales Alenia Space’s recent agreement with OHB System to develop the payload for the third Copernicus CO2 monitoring mission satellite.