NASA reveals plan for permanent base on the Moon

2026-05-27 09:17:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

NASA has revealed the next steps for building a permanent base on the Moon, unveiling plans for robotic landers, exploration drones and lunar vehicles to be used in the next decade.

According to the US space agency, the project aims to create a functional base at the South Pole of the Moon by 2032, supported by nuclear and solar energy. The project is part of the “Ignition Moon Base” program, which initially envisages sending robotic vehicles to explore the terrain and prepare the area for the arrival of astronauts.

Among the companies selected to develop the technology is Blue Origin, the space company founded by Jeff Bezos. NASA wants its Endurance spacecraft to perform precision landings and autonomous navigation on the lunar surface.

Also, the company Astrobotic will send the "Griffin-1" spacecraft near the Nobile crater at the South Pole of the Moon, while Intuitive Machines is involved in the development of other robotic systems.

NASA plans to launch 25 missions and transport about four tons of equipment to the Moon by 2029. These vehicles will include high-resolution cameras, scientific instruments and communication systems for future astronauts.

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman declared that the US "will never give up on the Moon again," emphasizing the strategic importance of the project for scientific research, resource exploitation and future missions to Mars.

However, experts remain skeptical about the timelines set. Lunar scientist Simeon Barber warned that technical hurdles could delay US plans and did not rule out the possibility that China could become the first country to return humans to the lunar surface.

Meanwhile, China is advancing its space program and aims to send astronauts to the Moon by 2030. Most recently, it launched the Shenzhou-23 spacecraft to the Tiangong space station.

Another challenge for NASA remains the development of the "Starship Human Landing System" ship by SpaceX, Elon Musk's company, which has encountered delays and technical problems during testing./ CNA