The Lunar Gateway is a Mistake

[image error]Image: NASA

NASA recently announced plans to construct the Lunar Gateway, which is to serve as a temporary base for operations on the moon and Mars. It’s part of a comprehensive initiative, if you take NASA at its word. It’s even got some spiffy images to back it up.

[image error]Image: NASA

Here’s the thing. The Lunar Gateway makes almost no sense for mission purposes. Mandating a scientific outpost over the moon in order to study it (and Mars, for some reason) offers no real benefits compared to an actu...