NASA Is Building “Air Traffic Control” for the Moon

Researchers from Texas A&M, NASA, and Purdue developed and tested algorithms to manage spacecraft traffic around NASA’s Gateway lunar station.

Thousands of simulations explored positioning, routing, collision avoidance, and fuel-efficient operations in the Near Rectilinear Halo Orbit.

The traffic-control system will be essential for safely coordinating crewed, cargo, and lander spacecraft and supporting future lunar exploration.