The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has scrapped plans to build and deploy a base constructed on Earth that would operate in lunar orbit around the Moon.
Instead, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) plans to repurpose existing components to build a $20 billion base on the Moon’s surface within the next seven years.
In a statement on March 24, 2026, NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman outlined the shift in strategy for the agency’s Artemis program. He said, “It should not really surprise anyone that we are pausing Gateway in its current form and focusing on infrastructure that supports sustained operations on the lunar surface.”
The Lunar Gateway was originally intended as a space station–like facility orbiting the Moon, serving as a hub for astronauts and further exploration. Although parts of the project had already been built by contractors such as Northrop Grumman and Vantor, NASA now plans to reuse that equipment for a surface-based lunar station.
The change in direction comes amid growing competition, after China announced plans to begin constructing its own Moon base by 2030, with completion targeted for 2035.
Isaacman’s announcement also comes as NASA prepares to launch its Artemis II mission on April 1, 2026. The mission marks the first crewed trip to the Moon in more than 50 years, though it has already faced several delays, leaving uncertainty about whether the revised timeline can be met.
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