NASAのジャレッド・アイザックマン局長は、月面ゲートウェイ宇宙ステーション向けに納入された2つの居住モジュール「HALO」および「I-HAB」に腐食の問題があることを認めた。この事実は議会証言の中で明らかにされたものであり、月面着陸ミッションを優先するためにプログラムを一時停止する理由の一つが追加された形となる。現在、ノースロップ・グラマン社と欧州宇宙機関（ESA）がこの問題に対処している。
NASAは過去10年にわたり、深宇宙での居住性試験や月面探査を支援するための月周回ステーションとして、月面ゲートウェイ計画を推進してきた。HALOモジュールと電源ユニットの打ち上げ計画は当初の2022年から2024年にずれ込み、I-HABは2026年が予定されている。アイザックマン局長は3月、中国の月面探査計画との競争やコストの増大を受け、資源を月面へ集中させるためにゲートウェイ計画を一時停止すると発表した。
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NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman announced the Ignition initiative on March 24, canceling the Lunar Gateway orbiting station to focus on a $20 billion three-phase moon base on the lunar surface. The shift, echoing Trump administration budget proposals, supports frequent Artemis crewed landings amid competition from China and preparations for the first crewed Artemis mission with a launch window opening April 1.
Thales Alenia Space has acknowledged a manufacturing issue affecting habitation modules for NASA's former Lunar Gateway project. The company stated it will fix the problem, described as a 'well-known metallurgical behavior,' by the end of the third quarter of 2026. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman recently disclosed corrosion in the modules during congressional testimony.
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NASA is working with SpaceX and Blue Origin to simplify requirements for their Human Landing Systems, aiming for a 2028 moon landing. Lori Glaze, head of NASA's deep space exploration, said both companies have submitted proposals to speed up development by avoiding complex orbits. Officials are analyzing compatibility with the Orion spacecraft.
NASA's Artemis II astronauts have surpassed the halfway point to the Moon following Wednesday's translunar injection burn, continuing smooth progress on the historic 10-day mission—the first crewed trip beyond low Earth orbit since Apollo 17. The crew is on track for a lunar far-side flyby tomorrow and observations on April 6.
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NASA's Artemis II crew—commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, mission specialists Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen—is in quarantine at Kennedy Space Center, with the Space Launch System rocket returned to the pad after repairs. Launch opportunities open as early as April 1 for the first human lunar trip since 1972, featuring a flyby of the moon's far side.
A two-day countdown is underway for NASA's Artemis II mission, scheduled to launch four astronauts on a flight around the moon from Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Liftoff is set for a two-hour window opening at 6:24 pm EDT on Wednesday, with backup opportunities through April 6. The crew will test the Orion spacecraft on a 10-day journey, marking humans' first deep space voyage in more than 50 years.
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NASA's Artemis II crew, aboard the Orion spacecraft named Integrity, has successfully departed Earth's orbit and is heading toward the Moon after a key engine burn. The astronauts reported no major issues, shared stunning photos of Earth, and spoke with family and media. The mission remains on track for a closest approach to the Moon on Monday and splashdown on April 10.