station, allowing it to transmit data to and receive data from other spacecraft on and around the Moon. It will launch in 2027 pre-attached to the HALO module, for which Thales has separately been awarded a contract by NASA to construct its hull and micrometeoroid protection. The HLCS will measure 2.5 m in both length and width, have a mass of 270 kg, and feature two 125 cm dish antennas. These will allow HLCS to achieve a data rate of up to 25 Mbps.

Because