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muriel_volestrangler

(106,212 posts)
Tue Mar 24, 2026, 10:25 AM Mar 24

NASA to spend $20 billion on moon base, cancel orbiting lunar station [View all]

Source: Reuters

WASHINGTON, March 24 - NASA is cancelling plans to deploy a space station in lunar orbit and will instead use its components to construct a $20 billion base on the moon's surface over the next seven years, its new chief Jared Isaacman said on Tuesday.
...
The Lunar Gateway station, largely already built with contractors Northrop Grumman and Vantor, formerly Maxar, was meant to be a space station parked in a lunar orbit. Repurposing the craft for a lunar surface base is not simple.

"Despite some of the very real hardware and schedule challenges, we can repurpose equipment and international partner commitments to support surface and other program objectives," Isaacman said.

Lunar Gateway was designed to serve as both a research platform and a transfer station that astronauts would use to board the moon landers before descending to the lunar surface.

Read more: https://www.reuters.com/science/nasa-cancel-orbiting-lunar-station-build-moon-base-instead-2026-03-24/



NASA Unveils Initiatives to Achieve America’s National Space Policy

Looking beyond Artemis V, NASA announced March 24 it will begin to incorporate more commercially procured and reusable hardware to undertake frequent and affordable crewed missions to the lunar surface, initially targeting landings every six months, with the potential to increase cadence as capabilities mature.

To achieve an enduring human presence on the Moon, NASA also announced a phased approach to building a lunar base. As part of this strategy, the agency intends to pause Gateway in its current form and shift focus to infrastructure that enables sustained surface operations. Despite challenges with some existing hardware, the agency will repurpose applicable equipment and leverage international partner commitments to support these objectives.
...
Phase One: Build, Test, Learn
NASA shifts from bespoke, infrequent missions to a repeatable, modular approach. Through CLPS (Commercial Lunar Payload Services) deliveries and the LTV (Lunar Terrain Vehicle) program, the agency will increase the tempo of lunar activity, sending rovers, instruments, and technology demonstrations that advance mobility, power generation (including radioisotope heater units and radioisotope thermoelectric generators), communications, navigation, surface operations, and a wide range of scientific investigations.

Phase Two: Establish Early Infrastructure
With lessons from early missions in hand, NASA moves toward semi‑habitable infrastructure and regular logistics. This phase supports recurring astronaut operations on the surface and incorporates major international contributions, including JAXA’s (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) pressurized rover, and potentially other partner scientific payloads, rovers, and infrastructure/transportation capabilities.

https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasa-unveils-initiatives-to-achieve-americas-national-space-policy/

(OP was originally from The Straits Times, but that is paywalled further down the article: https://www.straitstimes.com/world/nasa-to-spend-20-billion-on-moon-base-cancel-orbiting-lunar-station )
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So presumably all this at this page is now inoperative: muriel_volestrangler Mar 24 #1
Probably RussBLib Mar 24 #12
It's notable that what they said at the start of this month is SpaceX and Blue Origin are in competition muriel_volestrangler Mar 24 #13
While they cut people's food aid Blues Heron Mar 24 #2
Oh, they mean Trump Base bucolic_frolic Mar 24 #3
Exactly what I thought. He wants a permanent lunar base with his f'king name on it. Fla Dem Mar 24 #4
Whitey's on the Moon - Gil Scott-Heron Midnight Writer Mar 24 #5
Why do I keep thinking of this??? sdfernando Mar 24 #6
At this point in time, I don't believe any of this will be built. Javaman Mar 24 #7
We don't need to waste taxpayer money on a moon base. Jacson6 Mar 24 #8
good luck w this part- mopinko Mar 24 #9
The Bored of Peace? Take war to the moon! nt SomewhereInTheMiddle Wednesday #24
20 billion is 1/10th of an Iran War Supplemental maxsolomon Mar 24 #10
Will somebody please Google 'California High Speed Rail' Mawspam2 Thursday #34
But that benefits California maxsolomon Thursday #35
Soon the Trump Administration will announce they have won the war on the moon without anyone's help. twodogsbarking Mar 24 #11
An orbital moon base was a dumb idea anyway. LudwigPastorius Mar 24 #14
We, the People of the United States of America.... SergeStorms Mar 24 #15
In space, no one can hear you rant DBoon Mar 24 #16
Or hear him....... SergeStorms Wednesday #31
Such a waste of money. Owl Mar 24 #17
20B? ROFLMAO!! Add another zero onto that and it still might not be enough Bengus81 Mar 24 #18
It'll only be "semi-habitable". That's a major cost saving there. muriel_volestrangler Mar 24 #19
It's a Hail Mary... hunter Mar 24 #20
mining? mopinko Wednesday #25
We also don't need to spend trillions on a man on Mars BS expidition either. Bengus81 Wednesday #28
Oh hell no! oasis Mar 24 #21
Very good news mostly Yeller Mar 24 #22
I miss you already. Orrex Mar 24 #23
It's all monopoly money to Trump. He will spend it all. Irish_Dem Wednesday #26
Building more retreats for the Uber rich while people here die from lack of healthcare, housing and food yaesu Wednesday #27
;-{)..... Goonch Wednesday #29
What a waste. QueerDuck Wednesday #30
How will a moon base help the American people? Mysterian Wednesday #32
Oh good, its Moonbase Alpha all over again. Mawspam2 Thursday #33
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