More than half a century after astronauts last set foot on the Moon, Nasa is laying the groundwork for a long-term human presence on the lunar surface.
The US space agency has unveiled plans for robotic landers, moon vehicles and drones as part of an ambitious programme to establish a permanent base, with contracts awarded to several American companies, including Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin, the ABC reported.
“The Moon base will be America’s and humanity’s first outpost on another celestial world,” Nasa administrator Jared Isaacman said.
“Every mission, crewed and uncrewed, will be a learning opportunity as we return to the lunar surface, build the infrastructure to stay, and master the skills required to live and operate in one of the most demanding and dangerous environments imaginable.”
However, the US is already competing with China, which this week launched its Shenzhou‑23 mission carrying a crew of astronauts to the country’s Tiangong space station.
Beijing aims to land astronauts on the lunar surface by 2030 and continues to make steady progress, according to the BBC.
Nasa announced a US$20 billion ($34b) programme in March to construct a permanent base at the Moon’s south pole by 2032, powered by nuclear and solar energy, the BBC reported.
Nasa has unveiled plans to establish a permanent human presence on the Moon, marking a major step in the return to lunar exploration more than 50 years after the last Apollo landing. Photo / Nasa
The first three missions to the Moon are designed to gather information and begin the development of the base. Under the Artemis initiative, the US hopes to return astronauts to the Moon before President Donald Trump leaves office in 2029, according to the ABC.
Nasa’s Moon base programme manager Carlos Garcia-Galan said the three missions will involve 25 launches and 21 landings on the Moon.
“We’re planning to deliver about four metric tonnes of cargo to the surface of the Moon,” Garcia-Galan said.
Nasa’s Moon base plan is expected to roll out in three stages over the coming decade.
The first phase involves the first three missions, according to Nasa. The second stage would build essential infrastructure such as power, transport and resource systems. The final phase is planned sometime after 2032 and aims to support long-term human habitation using permanent structures.
Garcia-Galan said the base would have surveillance drones around the perimeter.
“Then we’ll be able to say, ‘Hey, we’re permanently here and we’re not giving it up’,” Garcia-Galan said.
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