Three Lunar Infrastructure Demo missions will now use the HALO module to test technologies for long-term astronaut survival at the Moon’s south pole, replacing its original role in NASA’s canceled Gateway station.
NASA made the pivot after Gateway ran into cost growth, schedule slips and contractor problems, including widespread corrosion in HALO’s primary structure and a review board finding a 0% chance of meeting launch readiness.
HALO’s contract grew from $187 million in 2019 to $1.9 billion by April 2026, when NASA issued a stop-work order; Northrop had projected delivery slipping to July 2028, while NASA’s inspector general estimated 2031.
The new missions are slated to begin in Moon Base Phase One, which runs through 2029, and will help NASA study how infrastructure can withstand south-pole temperatures ranging from minus 334F to 130F.