The Gateway Logistics Services (acronymized as GLS) will be a series of uncrewed spaceflights to the Lunar Gateway space station, with the purpose of providing logistical services to the Gateway.Overseen by NASAKennedy Space Center’s Deep Space Logistics Office, the flights will be operated by commercial providers, contracted by the agency in support of crewed expeditions to the Gateway made under the Artemis program.As of, SpaceX is the only company contracted to provide the services.[1]
Development
The Gateway Logistics Services were modeled after previous ventures by NASA with commercial providers, such as the Commercial Resupply Services to the International Space Station and the Commercial Crew Program.[2][3][4] Through the services, the Gateway will be provided with supplies, scientific instruments, and elements of the Artemis program architecture.[5] NASA first sought input from the private sector on a procurement framework through a Sources Sought Notice published in October 2018.[6] After a framework was approved by the United States Congress in December 2018, the agency published a draft for its request for proposals for resupply services to the Gateway on June 14, 2019.
Missions
The Gateway Logistics Services are managed by the Kennedy Space Center's Gateway Logistics Element,[19] which began operation in late 2019.[20] Each mission procured under the services is expected to last at least six months docked at the Gateway.[12] SpaceX will embark on at least two missions to the Gateway – lasting between six and twelve months each – using its Dragon XL spacecraft,[17][18][21] delivering scientific instruments and sample collection tools that astronauts will utilize during extravehicular activities on the lunar surface, along with other supplies for both Gateway and HLS crew.[17]
2.{{Harvard citation no brackets|KSC|2019|loc=page 34, "The GLS solicitation [...] builds on the capabilities NASA pioneered in low-Earth orbit with commercial launch services for science and exploration spacecraft, commercial cargo resupply to the International Space Station, and the Commercial Crew Program."}}^
the request detailed requirements for American commercial providers to be able to deliver spacecraft capable of carrying at least 3,400 kg of pressurized cargo and 1,000 kg of unpressurized cargo to the Gateway on each flight, and disposing of an equivalent mass at the end of the flight.
5.{{Harvard citation no brackets|KSC|2019|loc=page 34, "With the information gathered from industry, the team released the final request for proposals on Aug. 16, 2019, to procure logistics resupply capabilities to and from the Gateway in order to deliver cargo, science experiments and elements of the lunar architecture to deep space."}}^
6.{{Harvard citation no brackets|KSC|2019|loc=page 34, "A Sources Sought Notice was released on Oct. 23, 2018, seeking ideas and information that would aid in crafting the acquisition strategy for supplying Gateway and the Artemis exploration campaign."}}^
7.{{Harvard citation no brackets|KSC|2019|loc=page 34, "The Kennedy team received approval to proceed with its procurement strategy on Dec. 17, 2018, released a draft request for proposals on June 14, 2019, and held an industry day for the Gateway Logistics Services (GLS) contract on June 26, 2019."}}^
8.{{Harvard citation no brackets|Foust|2019|loc="The program will use fixed firm price contracts with milestone payment schedules, like that used for cargo transportation services to and from the International Space Station. The payment schedule included in the RFP anticipates providing 75 percent of the payment of each mission prior to launch."}}^
11.{{Harvard citation no brackets|Foust|2019|loc="Under the program, companies would deliver at least 3,400 kilograms of pressurized cargo and 1,000 kilograms of unpressurized cargo to the Gateway on each mission. The vehicle would also be required to dispose of at least as much pressurized and unpressurized cargo as it delivers to the Gateway."}}^
12.{{Harvard citation no brackets|Foust|2019|loc="One change in the requirements for such cargo spacecraft from the draft RFP is mission duration. The draft RFP stated that cargo vehicles should be designed to remain attached to the Gateway for three years, and that the capability for even longer missions "should be considered." The final RFP requires vehicles to be designed for only one-year stays at the Gateway, but with the option for potentially longer missions. "The nominal mission docked duration is expected to be six months," the final RFP notes.}}^
19.{{Harvard citation no brackets|KSC|2019|loc=page 34, "Kennedy is home to the Gateway Logistics Element (GLE), leading NASA's commercial supply chain for deep space."}}^
20.{{Harvard citation no brackets|KSC|2019|loc=page 34, "The GLE is planning to officially begin operations at Kennedy in late 2019 as a collaborative team working across the spaceport, leveraging all of the specialized skills and expertise Kennedy has to offer."}}^
