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 has delayed the Artemis II mission to April 1 following a helium flow problem that rolled the rocket back from the pad, building on prior fixes for hydrogen leaks during fueling tests. This first crewed lunar orbit since 1972 faces ongoing maintenance before returning to the launch site.
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The US space agency NASA is set to launch its Artemis II mission today, sending astronauts to orbit the moon for the first time in over 50 years. Four astronauts from the US and Canada will undertake a test flight lasting about ten days. Germany provides the key European Service Module for the Orion spacecraft via the European Space Agency.
NASA's Artemis II mission has reached day six, with its four-person crew nearing the far side of the moon. The spacecraft remains on track for a lunar flyby while the astronauts share images and videos of Earth. They are also testing systems for future missions and addressing a toilet issue.
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Fifty-eight years after Apollo 8's lunar orbit, Nasa is set to launch Artemis II, a crewed flyby that will take astronauts farther from Earth than ever before. The mission will test key technologies for future lunar landings and mark a step toward a permanent moon base. The crew, currently in quarantine, includes commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, and mission specialists Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen.