NASA announced on March 24, 2026, during its “Ignition” event that it will pause the Lunar Gateway space station program “in its current form” to redirect resources toward infrastructure supporting sustained lunar surface operations, aligning with the US National Space Policy.
The Lunar Gateway, originally envisioned as a key Artemis element, was a small station in lunar orbit to facilitate crewed Moon missions and deep space exploration. Its first two modules—the Power and Propulsion Element and Habitation and Logistics Outpost—were slated for launch on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy before Artemis IV. Contributions came from NASA, ESA, JAXA, the Canadian Space Agency, and UAE’s Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre.
While not formally terminated, NASA plans to repurpose applicable hardware and leverage international commitments where feasible. The agency now adopts a surface-first strategy in three phases: initial robotic missions via Commercial Lunar Payload Services and Lunar Terrain Vehicle; semi-habitable infrastructure with logistics, including JAXA’s pressurized rover; and final heavy infrastructure delivery using cargo-capable human landers for a continuous lunar presence, incorporating Italy’s Multi-purpose Habitats and Canada’s Lunar Utility Vehicle.
This shift integrates with broader Artemis changes: Artemis III, retargeted for 2027, will test systems in low Earth orbit instead of attempting a crewed landing, paving the way for an Artemis IV landing in 2028 and aiming for annual surface missions with commercial reusable systems.