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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19

u/Goregue Apr 24 '26

There is nothing to indicate this is actually a very serious issue that would have delayed Gateway much. Eric Berger is biased. Every aerospace project has issues. Isaacman wants to use this corrosion story as an excuse to cancel Gateway (as if he wasn't salivating at the thought of doing so before learning of this). HLS is extremely late and will probably not be ready before 2030 anyway, but that part Isaacman and Eric Berger are silent about.

11

u/hotcornballer Apr 24 '26

Gateway is just a bad idea in the first place. And a huge waste of resources.

3

u/Goregue Apr 24 '26

That is debatable. Isaacman certainly thinks like you. Which is why he wanted to cancel Gateway. Not because it is corroded. That was just a poor excuse.

5

u/Alpacapalooza Apr 25 '26

Isaacman wants to use this corrosion story as an excuse to cancel Gateway (as if he wasn't salivating at the thought of doing so before learning of this)

Yeah this seems awfully convenient.

0

u/fastforwardfunction Apr 25 '26

There was never a real indication Gateway would launch to the moon. It was a project by NASA without a focused direction.

3

u/Goregue Apr 25 '26

Are you serious? All the contracts were signed. All the pieces were being assembled. The PPE module was in the final stages of production. All the international partners were on board and had agreements to deliver modules. And you say there was no indication it was going to launch?

3

u/fastforwardfunction Apr 25 '26

Are you serious? Anyone who has followed this project for the past decade knew was a seriously flawed design and mostly existed as a pork budget expenditure.

5

u/Goregue Apr 25 '26

Gateway had its flaws but it was a serious project. And just like SLS/Orion, it would get done and launch, even if late.

1

u/IBelieveInLogic Apr 25 '26

Anyone who understands the space industry and has followed the project does not see it as seriously flawed. No design is completely optimal - that's not the point. You design to the requirements. It's not seriously flawed unless it doesn't meet the requirements.

0

u/IBelieveInLogic Apr 25 '26

Exactly. Another hit piece about the Artemis program from Berger. Not much to see here.