One notable challenge faced by architects designing the Gateway space station is the cramped living quarters due to the need to maximize physical space availability. With only 1.2m x 1.2m interior cross sections (approximately 4ft x 4ft), astronauts will not be able to stand upright inside. Most of the internal volume is consumed by machinery, leaving just a corridor for movement. Despite these challenges, NASA and its partners aim to ease the pressure on the crew and create a more comfortable living experience aboard the Gateway.
Gateway’s revolutionary propulsion system, known as the Advanced Electric Propulsion System, is currently undergoing testing at NASA’s Glenn Research Center. This system will be critical for expanding human presence beyond low Earth orbit and reaching destinations such as Mars.