The plenary session “Gateway: Humanity's Lunar Space Station” organized as part of the 74th International Astronautical Congress was held in Baku.

The session moderated by Tiffany Travis, Strategic communications manager for NASA's Gateway Program, was attended by Jon Olansen Gateway Program Manager at NASA, as well as Fumiya Tsutsui, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) Gateway Program Manager, Frank De Winne, International Space Station Program Manager and others.

The speakers provided information about the progress of the "Gateway" program ahead of the launch of the first elements of the space station into the lunar orbit in 2025.

“NASA’s Gateway Program is an international and commercial collaboration to establish humanity’s first space station in lunar orbit,” they added.

At the session, they emphasized that the scientific research conducted within the framework of the "Gateway" program is useful for the whole humanity.

NASA's Gateway program advances the aerospace industry by applying existing and advanced technologies to space, such as Northrop Grumman's Cygnus architecture, as well as advanced solar electric propulsion and autonomy.

At the same time, it organizes missions of international astronaut groups to stay longer on the Moon. At the same time, the program organizes missions for international teams of astronauts a long-term human presence on and around the Moon. Most importantly, the program sets its sights on preparing next generation for Mars.