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.
Thales Alenia Space, the French-Italian firm that built the pressure vessel structures for the Habitation and Logistics Outpost (HALO) and I-HAB modules, issued a statement on Monday. The company is working with Northrop Grumman on HALO and the European Space Agency on I-HAB to address the surface issue using NASA-approved processes. 'Our teams are working hand in hand with our longstanding customer Northrop Grumman to ensure that the HALO module fully meets the mission’s requirements,' Thales said, adding that nearly 50% of the International Space Station's pressurized volume it built remains operational after 25 years despite a similar past issue. Further comments were deemed premature, directing inquiries to Northrop and ESA. The issue surfaced after NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman revealed during a House committee hearing last Wednesday that the modules had corroded. Northrop Grumman soon confirmed a manufacturing irregularity, while ESA acknowledged observed corrosion. Axiom Space reported similar problems with its Module 1 from Thales. NASA halted Lunar Gateway development over a month ago to prioritize lunar surface activities, with HALO originally slated for a 2022 launch but delayed by such issues beyond 2030. Isaacman questioned repair feasibility on Saturday via X, stating, 'I am not sure there is a deterministic approach to repair,' and later whether fixes were even warranted. Northrop is now eyeing HALO for surface habitats, with Europe considering the same for I-HAB.
