Thales Alenia Space acknowledges a manufacturing issue affecting multiple space station modules, including NASA's Lunar Gateway habitation units, after initially remaining silent. The company describes it as a 'well-known metallurgical behavior' but avoids using the term 'corrosion' despite ESA and Axiom Space confirming similar problems. Fixes are planned by late 2026, raising concerns about transparency and reliability in critical space infrastructure.
Background
The Lunar Gateway is NASA's planned space station in lunar orbit, critical for Artemis program moon missions. Thales Alenia Space is a major aerospace contractor specializing in pressurized modules for space stations.
- Source
- Ars Technica
- Published
- Apr 27, 2026 at 10:02 PM
- Score
- 7.0 / 10