NASA's Lunar Gateway modules found corroded, adding to program's woes

NASA's Lunar Gateway space station program faces another setback after it was revealed that primary modules built for the project have corroded. The issue emerged during Congressional testimony before the US House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman was questioned by Rep. Suhas Subramanyam, whose district includes major elements of Northrop Grumman, the primary contractor for the Habitation and Logistics Outpost (HALO) module. For a decade, NASA promoted the Gateway as both a platform for exploring the lunar environment and testing technology for deep-space habitation. The first component was originally due to launch in 2022, with a pressurized habitation module from international partners planned for 2026. In March, Isaacman announced the Gateway was being paused so the agency could focus on the lunar surface. Since the program's demise, Northrop Grumman has been pushing NASA to repurpose the HALO module for use on the lunar surface as part of the space agency's Moon base.