Latvian high-tech company Allatherm, the country’s leading manufacturer of electronic thermal management solutions, has signed a €2.9 million contract with the Italian company Thales Alenia Space for the design and production of advanced cooling systems for the international Lunar Gateway project. This opportunity is made possible through Latvia’s status as an Associate Member of the European Space Agency (ESA), coordinated by the Ministry of Education and Science.
The company will deliver six fully qualified Flight Model (FM) units - marking the most extensive participation of a Latvian company in a space mission to date. The contract encompasses the design, qualification, and production of modular, flight-certified onboard electronics cooling systems for the Lunar View module of the Lunar Gateway, a joint initiative led by NASA and the European Space Agency. Working alongside Europe’s leading system integrators, Allatherm will manufacture equipment in accordance with space industry standards to ensure reliable operation under the harsh conditions of lunar orbit.
The Lunar View module is scheduled to be delivered into lunar orbit by the Artemis V mission around 2030, where it will connect to the already deployed elements of the Lunar Gateway.
The thermal management systems developed by Allatherm will maintain optimal operating temperatures for onboard systems, ensuring the reliable functioning of this internationally significant research platform. The contract represents the result of several years of focused development work. Allatherm began its path toward modular, space-qualified cooling systems with an ESA contract in 2020. The new order confirms the value of the company’s long-term investment and strengthens its manufacturing capabilities for future international missions.
"This agreement solidifies Allatherm’s position - transforming the company from a technology developer into a flight hardware supplier on a global scale," emphasises Allatherm Chairman of the Board, Igors Ušakovs. "Flight experience will enhance our reputation in the eyes of international space agencies and system integrators, and open the door to new collaborative projects with global system operators."
The benefits extend far beyond the success of a single company. For Latvia’s growing space sector, this contract demonstrates the nation’s ability to provide critical components for ambitious space exploration projects. It strengthens Latvia’s standing as an ESA Associate Member and showcases the tangible returns of the national space programme’s investments.
Allatherm Ltd., located in the Latvian Technology Park in Riga, specialises in advanced thermodynamics and two-phase heat transfer technologies. The company’s solutions are used both in space and terrestrial applications, delivering thermal conductivity several times greater than that of conventional materials.
