Lunar Gateway
Coverage of Lunar Gateway in the Nexus archive.
- ESA boss tires of being dragged around by NASA mood swings
European Space Agency Director General Josef Aschbacher criticized NASA's mood swings and called for autonomy in human spaceflight, citing concerns over dependence on third parties. The ESA has been affected by NASA's fluctuating priorities and funding, including the potential cancellation of the Lunar Gateway project. Aschbacher emphasized the need for Europe to secure its freedom in space exploration.
- Gateway manufacturer finally acknowledges issue, fails to mention "corrosion"
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman revealed corrosion issues in the Lunar Gateway's habitation modules during a congressional hearing, prompting initial skepticism. Northrop Grumman, the primary contractor, later acknowledged a manufacturing irregularity, while the European Space Agency confirmed corrosion in its module.
- Well, this is embarrassing: The Lunar Gateway's primary modules are corroded
NASA's Lunar Gateway project, intended as a lunar orbiting space station for exploration and deep-space habitation testing, has faced repeated delays and was recently paused in March 2024 due to corrosion issues in its primary modules. Originally planned for 2022-2026 launches, the project's core components, including the power and propulsion module and HALO habitat, remain unlaunched.