The Italian company Thales Alenia Space has signed a contract with the Italian Space Agency (BUT) for the preliminary design and technological preparation of a multi-purpose residential module (MPH) — the first permanent human settlement on the surface of the Moon. The launch of the module is scheduled for 2033 year from the Kennedy Space Center as part of the Artemis program and international agreements between NASA and ASI.
The MPH project envisages the creation of an autonomous and multi-purpose environment, which will ensure the survival of crews during lunar missions, will contribute to scientific research, as with the crew, and in automatic mode, and will also support operational and logistical operations on the surface of the satellite. The module is designed with at least 10 years of work, including the possibility of mobile movement on the lunar surface.
Thales Alenia Space Italy is the prime contractor for the two-year preliminary design phase. Altec company is involved in the project (a joint venture between Thales Alenia Space and ASI), as well as other representatives of the Italian aerospace sector. The main attention will be paid to solving a number of technological challenges: protection against extreme temperatures, abrasive effect of lunar dust, radiation, micrometeoroids and the influence of reduced gravity.
This project is part of NASA's long-term "Moon to Mars" strategy and strengthens Italy's position in the global space economy. MPH is considered as one of the key components of the Artemis system, which will increase the flexibility and sustainability of future missions to explore the moon and prepare for flights to Mars.
Source: https://www.spacedaily.com