ORLANDO, Fla. — NASA is at a crucial point in figuring out the logistics for its lunar Gateway. They’re exploring different options to improve how they transport supplies and equipment to this space station.
Back in 2020, NASA teamed up with SpaceX to create a service to move cargo to and from the Gateway. This service is similar to what SpaceX already does for the International Space Station. SpaceX’s plan included a new version of the Dragon spacecraft called Dragon XL.
However, progress has been slow. Some of the delays stemmed from the Gateway program itself. Mark Wiese, who manages the Deep Space Logistics program at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, explained that when purchasing a commercial service, timing is essential. “You don’t want to buy too soon and let it sit idle,” he noted during a recent panel discussion.
In 2023, NASA allowed SpaceX to move forward with its first logistics mission for the Gateway. But Wiese mentioned that last year, NASA considered some changes SpaceX suggested for its logistics setup. The details weren’t shared, but a decision on this could come by mid-2025.
NASA is also looking into using the Starship spacecraft for these logistics instead of Dragon XL. Wiese stated, “We want to understand how this could help our needs as we expand into cislunar space.”
Work on Gateway logistics hit a pause last year after a budget proposal aimed to cancel the Gateway program. Fortunately, Congress provided funding for it in a bill passed last July.
“We’re at a crossroads with these two logistics options from SpaceX,” Wiese said. They are waiting for clearer policy guidance on what to do next, likely after the Artemis 2 mission set to launch in early February.
Additionally, NASA is studying transportation in cislunar space, which is the area between the Earth and the Moon. In August, they chose six companies for short-term studies focused on new types of orbital transfer vehicles. These studies are valued at $1.4 million and involve companies like Blue Origin and Rocket Lab.
Wiese emphasized, “To make logistics work, we need efficient transportation throughout cislunar space.” These studies have been completed, and NASA is now assessing their next steps, possibly considering demonstration missions to stimulate the market.
As with the Gateway logistics, decisions on future actions are expected after Artemis 2. NASA’s commitment to expanding logistics capabilities in space reflects its larger goals in lunar exploration and beyond.
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