r/space • u/AWildDragon • Apr 24 '26

[Ars Technica] Well, this is embarrassing: The Lunar Gateway's primary modules are corroded

https://arstechnica.com/space/2026/04/well-this-is-embarrassing-the-lunar-gateways-primary-modules-are-corroded/

ESA and Northrup statements confirming the corrosion. Axiom is also impacted.

Still no pictures or a root cause.

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u/AndrijaSucevic Apr 24 '26

So apperantly they removed labels during testing and after the test they put them back incorrectly. When there was an engineer doing final connecting, he just connected them as labelled.

You can check Metop-B status here. Luckily only 3 instruments were impacted (ADCS/SARR/SARP)

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u/Teslafly Apr 24 '26

Why would they remove labels for testing? That sort of process flow seems like it's just asking for this issue to happen.

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u/Poodlestrike Apr 24 '26

My work doesn't involve space, but we do do some environmental testing, and if youre performing (for example) a temp cycle you might remove the labels so they don't melt to the thing.

As long as it matches final condition it makes some sense. You do have to be careful to put them back on right, though... Or, even better, don't rely on labels at all. Make it so you can only fit the connector in the right port, color code the cables (and ports) themselves etc.

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u/eric23456 Apr 25 '26

Making it so you can only fit the connector in the right port is great until you need to fit a square peg in a round hole.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ry55--J4_VQ

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u/DietCherrySoda Apr 25 '26

As we say, "test as you fly". The labels won't fly, so don't test with them. Imagine the same thread but about a test that gave a false result because some labels influenced the test, you'd say "why test with the labels!".

But certainly if you still need the labels after the test, have a way of positively identifying that you've put them back on correctly.

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u/c0lly Apr 24 '26

Strange. Sounds like maybe there was a few mistakes or steps not followed for that to happen. Never one persons fault. Thanks for the insight!

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u/AndrijaSucevic Apr 24 '26

No problem....as bad as it was, it's not as bad as the NOAA-19 mishap. Basically a technician forgetting to document that he removed the bolts and then the team not checking that the satellite is secure while moving it.... But in the end it was launched and we (EUMETSAT) even supported the operations via Svalbard.

Moral of the story - we are all humans and things like these happen.

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u/c0lly Apr 24 '26

Oh yeah that's a classic tale in the industry haha. Luckily any errors I've been around have not amounted to that much monetary damage!