Today, the world was abuzz with news of the first astronauts to embark on a mission to the newly-constructed Lunar Gateway. However, before the astronauts can embark on their journey, they must first solve a major issue: tracking the Gateway.

NASA and the European Space Agency are in the process of developing a system to track the Gateway’s location and course. As the Gateway is moving in a highly elliptical orbit around the Moon, it can be difficult to accurately track its position.

The astronauts will be relying on a combination of Earth-based and Lunar-based tracking systems to monitor the Gateway’s movements. The Earth-based system will be made up of a network of ground-based optical telescopes and radio antennas, while the Lunar-based system will utilize an array of sensors on the Moon’s surface.

This combination of systems will be essential in ensuring the astronauts have an accurate understanding of the Gateway’s position and course. Once the tracking system is in place, the astronauts can begin their journey to the Lunar Gateway, and take one step closer to a future of space exploration.

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source: Phys.org