Nasa to spend $20bn on moon base after cancelling orbiting station
The Guardian • • general
Key Points:
- NASA is canceling plans for the Lunar Gateway space station in lunar orbit and will instead use its components to build a $20 billion base on the moon's surface over the next seven years, according to new agency chief Jared Isaacman.
- Isaacman announced the shift at a NASA event in Washington, emphasizing a focus on infrastructure that supports sustained lunar surface operations rather than maintaining the Gateway in its current form.
- The Lunar Gateway, largely constructed by Northrop Grumman and Lanteris Space Systems, was originally intended as a research platform and transfer station for moon landers, but will now be repurposed for a surface base despite hardware and scheduling challenges.
- This strategic pivot is reshaping billions of dollars in Artemis program contracts, prompting companies to accelerate efforts amid increasing competition from China's advancing lunar ambitions targeting a 2030 moon landing.
