WASHINGTON: NASA has launched a dedicated website for its ambitious Moon Base programme, a proposed $20 billion effort to establish a permanent American presence near the Moon’s south pole. The project, expected to rely heavily on SpaceX’s Starship spacecraft, is being presented as humanity’s first long-term lunar home where astronauts will live, work, and conduct scientific research.
The newly launched website outlines a three-phase roadmap for building and sustaining the lunar settlement under the agency’s Artemis programme.
Phase One Focuses on Exploration and Technology Testing
The first phase, running through 2029, will concentrate on scouting the lunar south pole and testing technologies required for long-term habitation. NASA plans to conduct up to 25 missions, including 21 lunar landings.
During this period, both crewed and autonomous rovers will explore the region, while four MoonFall drones will be deployed to gather scientific data. The agency also intends to test nuclear radioisotope heater units designed to keep equipment functioning through the Moon’s harsh two-week-long nights.
Approximately four tonnes of cargo will be delivered during this phase, supported by communications relay systems and observation satellites.
Infrastructure Expansion Planned Between 2029 and 2032
The second phase, spanning 2029 to 2032, will focus on creating semi-permanent infrastructure on the lunar surface.
NASA expects to transport as much as 60 tonnes of cargo through 24 landings using a mix of low-, medium-, and heavy-lift landers. The phase will see the deployment of expanded solar power systems, early habitation components, upgraded rovers, and initial nuclear surface power technologies, potentially including fission reactors.
These developments are intended to lay the groundwork for a continuously operating lunar outpost.
Permanent Lunar Living Targeted After 2032
Beginning in 2032, Phase Three aims to transform the site into a functioning lunar settlement. The plan includes routine astronaut rotations, larger habitation modules, and annual cargo deliveries of roughly 38 tonnes to support ongoing operations.
The infrastructure will be designed to sustain crews through the Moon’s extreme environmental conditions, including its prolonged periods of darkness.
First Uncrewed Missions Scheduled for 2026
Before astronauts return to the lunar surface, NASA plans to launch three uncrewed Moon Base missions in 2026.
The first mission will use Blue Origin’s Blue Moon Mark 1 Endurance lander to carry a Lunar Plume-Surface Studies instrument. The second mission will deploy Astrobotic’s Griffin lander along with Astrolab’s FLIP rover. The third mission will send Intuitive Machines’ Nova-C Trinity lander to investigate lunar swirls while carrying scientific payloads from Europe and South Korea.
NASA has also awarded major contracts to support lunar mobility and logistics. Astrolab and Lunar Outpost received lunar terrain vehicle contracts worth $219 million and $220 million respectively, while Blue Origin secured a $118 million contract for rover delivery services.
Although the Artemis II crewed flyby mission concluded successfully in April, NASA does not expect astronauts to return to the Moon’s surface until 2028, marking the next major milestone in America’s long-term lunar ambitions.
