TTTech Aerospace partners with Thales Alenia Space for Lunar Gateway avionics

TTTech Aerospace partners with Thales Alenia Space for Lunar Gateway avionics
by Robert Schreiber
Berlin, Germany (SPX) Oct 16, 2024

TTTech Aerospace is collaborating with Thales Alenia Space to support NASA's Artemis program, which aims to return humans to the Moon. The company is supplying TTEthernet networking and computing platforms for the European segments of the Lunar Gateway, a space station in cislunar orbit. The Gateway will feature key modules built by Thales Alenia Space, including the International Habitation Module ("Lunar I-Hab") for crew accommodation and scientific research, as well as the Lunar View, which will handle cargo transport, storage, propellant supply, and offer observational windows for the station.

These technologies are also implemented in U.S. modules such as the Power and Propulsion Element (PPE) and the Habitation and Logistics Module (HALO), with Thales Alenia Space constructing HALO's pressurized module for Northrop Grumman. The use of TTEthernet across these components ensures interoperability throughout the Gateway, leveraging a fault-tolerant data network and robust equipment. The early development stages of this platform were supported by the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG).

"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," said Christian Fidi, General Manager of TTTech Aerospace.

Thales Alenia Space sees the partnership with TTTech Aerospace as a natural choice, given the company's expertise in TTEthernet technology. "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," commented Thierry Grassin, Avionics Program Manager at Thales Alenia Space.

TTTech Aerospace is also partnering with Beyond Gravity Austria, a well-established space equipment supplier, to support all Lunar Gateway modules. The collaboration extends to providing equipment to Space Application Services in Belgium, which is integrating TTEthernet switching units for Thales Alenia Space. Additionally, TTTech Aerospace delivers safety-critical software directly to Thales Alenia Space in Italy to ensure seamless integration of the electrical power management system within the data communication framework.