The European Space Agency faces a critical decision by June regarding its contributions to the Gateway lunar-orbiting station, following NASA's March 24 decision to halt work on the project. The Gateway had been designed as a lunar-orbiting station intended to support astronauts before and after lunar surface missions as part of the broader Artemis program.
For more than a year, questions have surrounded changes to the Artemis program and Gateway's specific role within U.S. lunar exploration ambitions. The lunar station was positioned as a key infrastructure element for sustained lunar operations, serving as a staging point for crew rotations and surface missions.