Gateway manufacturer finally acknowledges issue, fails to mention "corrosion"
Ars Technica • • science
Key Points:
- NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman revealed that the two habitation modules for the Lunar Gateway suffered corrosion, a claim initially met with skepticism but later confirmed by contractors Northrop Grumman and the European Space Agency (ESA).
- Both modules’ pressure vessels were manufactured by Thales Alenia Space, which acknowledged the corrosion issue as a "well-known metallurgical behavior" and committed to fixing it by the third quarter of 2026.
- The corrosion problems contributed to NASA halting Lunar Gateway development to prioritize lunar surface missions, with uncertainty about whether repairs to the HALO and I-HAB modules are feasible or even necessary.
- Thales emphasized its extensive experience with space module manufacturing and assured collaboration with partners to resolve the issue, though NASA's Isaacman expressed doubts about a deterministic repair approach.
- The incident highlights challenges for Thales amid growing competition from US-based companies in the space habitat market, as private firms like Axiom, Vast Space, and Voyager develop alternative space station structures.
