NASA has announced new details of its program to establish a permanent lunar base, which will utilize robotic landers, “hopping” drones, and rovers to explore the Moon’s surface. The first phases of the mission are set to begin in the coming years.
Private companies, including Blue Origin, Intuitive Machines, and Astrobotic, are participating in the project. They are developing landers and equipment to deliver scientific instruments, including high-precision navigation systems and laser sensors for landing.
NASA plans to return astronauts to the Moon by 2029, amid competition with China, which is also preparing its own crewed mission by 2030. The space race between the countries is putting increasing pressure on the space agency.
The program calls for a phased approach: first, robotic missions to map and explore the terrain, followed by the delivery of cargo and equipment. During this period, up to 25 launches and about 4 tons of cargo are planned.
By 2032, NASA plans to establish a “semi-permanent” lunar base at the Moon’s south pole, powered by solar and nuclear energy and enabling scientific experiments and, potentially, resource extraction.