Overview
- The peer‑reviewed study from Texas A&M, NASA Johnson Space Center and Purdue, published Tuesday, August 25, 2026, lays out algorithms and procedures to manage loitering and multi‑vehicle sequencing in a Near Rectilinear Halo Orbit (NRHO).
- Authors propose predictable holding patterns, including a “string of pearls” formation that spaces visiting vehicles at set intervals ahead of or behind the station to lower collision risk while they wait to dock.
- Researchers ran thousands of simulations that included realistic navigation errors, imperfect thruster burns and small disturbances to test the proposed rules and tactics.
- Results show that modestly more frequent station‑keeping maneuvers keep spacecraft significantly closer to intended positions while adding only small increases in propellant use, improving rendezvous predictability.
- The paper offers a technical ‘rules of the road’ and an initial flight manual for cislunar operations but notes further engineering, interoperability standards and international and commercial agreements are needed before routine Gateway traffic begins.