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takyon [soylentnews.org] writes:

The U.S. and Russia will work together to develop a space station orbiting the Moon [techcrunch.com]. Canada, Japan, and the ESA have also expressed interest [popsci.com] in the project:

At this year's International Astronautical Congress, NASA and Russia's space agency, Roscosmos, signed a joint statement [nasa.gov] expressing their intent to work collaboratively toward the development of a space station further out from Earth, orbiting the Moon, as a staging point for both lunar surface exploration and deeper space science.

This is part of NASA's expressed desire to explore and develop its so-called "deep space gateway" concept, which it intends to be a strategic base from which to expand the range and capabilities of human space exploration. NASA wants to get humans out into space beyond the Moon, in other words, and the gateway concept would establish an orbital space station in the vicinity of the Moon to help make this a more practical possibility.

Let's hope that the station, if built, becomes a refueling station that can store and distribute fuel produced on the Moon.

Deep Space Gateway [wikipedia.org]. Also at The Guardian [theguardian.com].

Previously: NASA Eyeing Mini Space Station in Lunar Orbit as Stepping Stone to Mars [soylentnews.org]

Related: Moon Base Could Cost Just $10 Billion Due to New Technologies [soylentnews.org]
ESA Expert Envisions "Moon Village" by 2030-2050 [soylentnews.org]
Scientists Scout Sub-Surface Settlement Sites on the Moon and Mars [soylentnews.org]

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