NASA to pause lunar orbit space station project
(VOVWORLD) - NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman announced on Tuesday plans to suspend the Gateway project, which aims to build a space station orbiting the Moon, and instead focus on developing a base on the lunar surface.
Despite technical challenges, NASA plans to reuse suitable equipment and call on international partners for support. The European Space Agency and other international organizations are partners in the Gateway project.
The move follows adjustments to the Artemis Program, which aims to return humans to the Moon and establish a long-term presence, paving the way for future missions to Mars.
Under the revised plan, a preparatory mission will be added before the crewed lunar landing, which has been delayed from 2027 to 2028. Artemis III will focus on testing systems in low Earth orbit in 2027, ahead of the Artemis IV mission, which is expected to land on the Moon in 2028.