Airbus is developing living quarters and research lab for astronauts aboard Nasa's lunar station

Aerospace company Airbus is to draw up plans for Europe's contribution to a base orbiting the moon. The Gateway is an international project that envisages a lunar staging post for manned space missions to the moon or Mars. The European Space Agency (ESA) has commissioned Airbus, which has a major space facility in Stevenage, to develop key concepts for the station over the next 15 months. The first study will look at designs for a habitation and research module measuring around 6.5 metres (21ft) and weighing nine tonnes. Airbus will also consider plans for refuelling, docking and telecommunications infrastructure.