Nasa to spend $20bn on moon base after cancelling orbiting station

"We are pausing Gateway in its current form and focusing on infrastructure that supports sustained operations on the lunar surface, Isaacman told delegates at the event."

"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."

"The changes imposed by Isaacman on the flagship US moon programme in recent weeks are reshaping billions of dollars' worth of contracts under the Artemis effort."

NASA is shifting its focus from the Lunar Gateway space station to constructing a $20 billion base on the moon's surface over the next seven years. New chief Jared Isaacman announced this change, emphasizing the need for infrastructure that supports sustained lunar operations. The Lunar Gateway, which was intended as a research platform and transfer station, will have its components repurposed. This decision is reshaping contracts under the Artemis program, creating urgency among companies as competition with China's moon landing efforts intensifies.

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