From the majestic mountains of Turin to the arid deserts of Arizona, a pivotal component of humanity’s inaugural lunar space station, Gateway, has moved one step closer to the Moon. As captured in an April 1, 2025 photograph, the Habitation and Logistics Outpost (HALO) — Gateway’s first pressurized module and a foundational element — recently arrived in Gilbert, Arizona. This follows its fabrication by Thales Alenia Space in Turin, Italy.
Now on American soil, the module is set to undergo its final outfitting by primary contractor Northrop Grumman. Once completed, it will be integrated with the Power and Propulsion Element at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. These two modules are scheduled for launch into lunar orbit aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket in preparation for the Artemis IV mission.
HALO will play a crucial role in supporting astronauts visiting Gateway, acting as a command and control hub for the space station. It will feature docking ports for various spacecraft, including NASA’s Orion, logistics vehicles, and lunar landers. Furthermore, HALO will provide essential services such as data handling, energy storage, power distribution, thermal regulation, and capabilities for communications and tracking.
The arrival of HALO signifies a significant milestone in the construction of Gateway, a cornerstone of NASA’s Artemis campaign. This initiative aims to advance scientific research and exploration on and around the Moon, setting the stage for humanity’s next monumental step: the first human missions to Mars.
Image credit: NASA/Josh Valcarcel
