NASA Shelves Gateway Program To Focus On Moon Base

Irene Klotz March 27, 2026

NASA concept of Space Reactor-1 Freedom — Space Reactor-1 Freedom, a nuclear electric propulsion flight test, is targeted to launch in December 2028.

Credit: NASA Concept

In a sweeping revamp of the Artemis lunar exploration initiative, NASA is shelving a planned lunar-orbiting station in favor of a base on the Moon, turning to commercial landers to fly more and heavier payloads to the surface and aiming to retire the government-owned Space Launch System-Orion deep...

Irene Klotz

Irene Klotz is Senior Space Editor for Aviation Week, based in Cape Canaveral. Before joining Aviation Week in 2017, Irene spent 25 years as a wire service reporter covering human and robotic spaceflight, commercial space, astronomy, science and technology for Reuters and United Press International.

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