An early full-scale mockup of the astronaut accommodations designed for a future lunar-orbiting space station has arrived at Space Center Houston and is now on public display. This exciting exhibit gives visitors a firsthand look at what life in orbit around the moon might be like.
The cislunar habitat prototype, developed by Northrop Grumman, was originally built in 2019 as part of NASA’s Next Space Technologies for Exploration Partnerships (NextSTEP-2) program. Weighing in at 5,000 pounds and measuring 14.5 feet wide by 21 feet long, this ground prototype was one of several designs NASA evaluated for its Artemis program. It helped Northrop Grumman secure the contract to build the HALO (Habitation and Logistics Outpost) for the Artemis Gateway, a human-tended space station that will orbit the moon. This lunar platform will eventually support astronauts conducting research or traveling between Earth and the moon’s surface.
The transfer of the large habitat module to its new home at Space Center Houston was no small feat. MEI Rigging & Crating, a provider of rigging and machinery moving services, was enlisted to handle the complex move. To accommodate the massive structure, Space Center Houston trimmed back tree limbs and even removed a window-lined wall to create a suitable entry point. Using specialized equipment, MEI expertly lifted the module from a flatbed truck and carefully navigated it into the building with only inches of clearance.
Previously, the public could only catch a glimpse of this mockup from a distance during its time at NASA’s Johnson Space Center, where it was used in astronaut training alongside other space modules. Now, visitors to Space Center Houston will have the unique opportunity to walk around and even step inside the habitat. The interactive exhibit will allow guests to experience what a day in the life of an astronaut aboard a lunar-orbiting station might be like, offering a fascinating preview of future space exploration.
