NASA has decided to scrap its plans for a space station in lunar orbit and will instead repurpose its components to build a $20 billion US base on the moon’s surface within the next seven years, according to the agency’s new chief, Jared Isaacman. Isaacman, who took office at NASA in December, unveiled these changes during a day-long event at NASA’s Washington headquarters, where he outlined various modifications to the agency’s flagship moon program, Artemis.
During the event, Isaacman explained that the focus will shift towards establishing infrastructure that can sustain operations on the lunar surface, leading to the suspension of the Lunar Gateway project in its current form. Originally intended as a space station in lunar orbit, the Lunar Gateway station, which was already in progress with the help of contractors like Northrop Grumman and Intuitive Machines subsidiary Lanteris Space Systems, will now be transformed into a lunar surface base despite the challenges involved.
Isaacman emphasized the potential to repurpose existing equipment and leverage international partnerships to align with the objectives of surface operations and other program goals. The Lunar Gateway was initially designed to function as a research platform and a transfer station for astronauts boarding moon landers en route to the lunar surface.
The changes introduced by Isaacman to the Artemis program have significant implications for contracts worth billions of dollars, as companies work to adapt to the heightened urgency spurred by China’s advancements towards its own moon landing by 2030.
