NASA is pausing plans to deploy a space station in lunar orbit and will instead use its components to construct ‌a $20 billion base on the moon's surface over the next seven years, its new chief Jared Isaacman said on Tuesday.

As the Artemis II crewed moon mission soars deeper into space than humans have traveled in decades, back on Earth, the White House has proposed slashing NASA’s budget.

Northrop Grumman works on HALO, the main central module of the now-sidelined Gateway lunar space station. Credit: Northrop Grumman NASA will shelve its plan for a small lunar space station in favor of building a base directly on the moon.