NASA allocates $20 billion to build a lunar base... and suspends the construction of "Gateway"

The president announcedNASAOn Tuesday, it was announced that the US space agency will invest $20 billion to develop a base on Moon surfaceWith its plans to build its lunar orbital station, known as “Gateway”, on hold.
“The agency intends to halt the Gateway project in its current form and instead focus on the infrastructure that will enable sustainable operations on the surface,” Jared Isaacman said in a statement during a day-long event at NASA headquarters in Washington the moon“.
He added, “Despite the challenges facing the operation of some existing equipment, the agency will repurpose appropriate equipment and will leverage the commitments of international partners to support these objectives.”.

Future missions to Mars

The European Space Agency, along with other international organizations, was among the partners in the Gateway project.
This latest change to NASA's plans follows adjustments to the Artemis program, which aims to return American astronauts to the Moon and establish a long-term presence there, paving the way for future missions to Mars.
The Gateway lunar orbital station was intended to serve as a transit point for astronauts traveling to the Moon and a research platform.
The suspension of the initiative was not unexpected, as some criticized it as a drain on resources or a distraction from other ambitious lunar missions.