Design and manufacture
Mission requirements for module specified the need to provide habitation and working space for four astronauts for a duration of 30 to 90 days. I-HAB will feature four docking ports, two axial ports for connection to other Lunar Gateway elements, and two radial ports for cargo vehicle and lunar lander vehicle.[6] Due to Lunar Gateway not being permanently inhabited, the module would have been optimised for remote operation and maintenance, which would be achieved through the use of internal robotic interfaces and a robotic arm.[6]
The module aimed to provide galley facilities; hygiene and waste management systems; exercise equipment; cargo and consumables storage; refrigeration; airlocks; and workstations, monitor, and control consoles.[6] Various elements of the module are contributions from partners. Environmental control and life support system, batteries, thermal control, and imagery components will be built and supplied by JAXA; avionics hardware and software will be supplied by US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA); and robotic interfaces will be provided by the Canadian Space Agency (CSA).[12][13]
I-HAB was planned to feature four docking ports. Two axial ports to be used for connection to other Lunar Gateway elements, including the Habitation and Logistics Outpost and airlock.[6] Two radial docking ports to be used for connection to the European System Providing Refueling, Infrastructure and Telecommunications (ESPRIT) module and for accommodating visiting cargo vehicles, Orion spacecraft and lunar lander.[6]
I-HAB was planned to launch on NASA's Space Launch System. The size and weight of the module were constrained by the possibility of its launch vehicle being switched to SpaceX's Falcon Heavy.[6][13] The inner diameter was reduced from 4.2 meters to 3.4 meters, and internal length reduced from 6.6 meters to 5.9 meters.[6] Both reductions resulted from a smaller payload fairing, the need for a separate service vehicle to replace the transport service provided by the Orion spacecraft, and docking targets for the radial ports.[6]
ESA completed the preliminary design review of the I-HAB in November 2021.[14] In preparation for this review, Thales Alenia partnered with the European Astronaut Centre to allow ESA astronauts to experience the usable volume and crew accommodations within the habitat. This was achieved via virtual reality.[15] As of May 2024, the module was well underway in the testing phase.[16]
