Three team team on avionics for lunar exploration

TTTech Aerospace is working with Thales Alenia Space and Beyond Gravity on two European modules for NASA’s Lunar Gateway.

The Lunar International Habitation Module (Lunar I-Hab) and Lunar View, a refueling module, are being built by Thales Alenia Space and funded through the European Space Agency (ESA) as part of the Artemis programme.

The designs will use European versions of the TTEthernet networking and computing platforms already implemented in the US-built PPE and Halo Gateway modules.

TTTech Aerospace is working with Beyond Gravity Austria on all the Lunar Gateway modules as well as providing equipment to Space Application Services, Belgium, that is integrating the TTEthernet switching units needed by Thales Alenia Space.

Safety-critical software is delivered directly to Thales Alenia Space in Italy in order to ensure that the electrical power management in the Lunar I-Hab is perfectly integrated into the data communication architecture as well.

The International Habitation Module (Lunar I-Hab) that will serve as the main accommodation for crew and the base for scientific experiments, and the Lunar View that has several main functions: transporting cargo to the station, providing storage space, supplying propellant to the Gateway’s propulsion system and offering windows for the Gateway.

Similar solutions are implemented in the US-built Power and Propulsion Element (PPE) and the Habitation and Logistics Module (HALO) whose pressurized module is built by Thales Alenia Space on behalf of Northrop Grumman,. This ensures interoperability across the Lunar Gateway by using essentially the same fault-tolerant data network and extremely robust networking equipment.

“We are excited to work with Thales Alenia Space on such a large project as Lunar I-Hab and Lunar View. For us, this is the first integration of our TTEthernet networking and computing platforms in European-built human spaceflight modules. This was made possible by TTTech Aerospace taking part in ESA’s GSTP activity ‘Elements of TTEthernet-based Avionics’, where we aligned with Thales Alenia Space on their needs and were able to offer them the required TTEthernet equipment directly and via partners,” says Christian Fidi, General Manager, TTTech Aerospace.

“The avionics architecture adopted the innovative concept of the TTEthernet digital backbone to ensure the required interoperability within the overall Gateway. It is key for us to benefit from re-use of TTTech Aerospace’s experience gained for the PPE and HALO modules and we rely on TTTech Aerospace for the development and qualification of this new technology to be integrated within the I-Hab main avionics units such as the flight computers and switching units,” said Thierry Grassin, Avionics Program Manager at Thales Alenia Space.