NASA Unveils Plans for Moon Base with Landers, Rovers, and Drones

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — NASA is moving forward with plans for a moon base, announcing the procurement of landers, rovers, and drones just two months after the Artemis II mission successfully completed a lunar flyby.

Survey

The agency revealed its initial phase of lunar base development on Tuesday, allocating hundreds of millions of dollars in contracts to four American companies to support this ambitious project.

Contracts and Hardware

Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin will supply two landers that will transport moon buggies to a designated area near the lunar south pole. The lunar terrain vehicles are being developed by Astrolab and Lunar Outpost. Additionally, Firefly Aerospace, which achieved a successful moon landing last year, will provide the first drones for the lunar surface.

Timeline for Artemis Missions

NASA aims for all hardware to be operational before the first Artemis astronauts land on the moon, scheduled for as early as 2028. Following the Artemis II mission, which involved four astronauts traveling further into space than Apollo crews in the late 1960s and early 1970s, the agency is preparing for Artemis III next year. This mission will involve astronauts practicing the docking of NASA’s Orion capsule with the lunar landers developed by Blue Origin and SpaceX.

Future Phases of the Moon Base

Nasa is targeting mid-2027 for the Artemis III mission, with a planned landing for two astronauts as soon as 2028. The second phase of the moon base project, which will focus on constructing permanent infrastructure such as a power grid, is set to commence from 2029 into the early 2030s. The third phase will aim to establish specialized habitats for astronauts to stay on the moon for extended periods, expected to be realized in the 2030s.

Vision for the Moon Base

“Then we’ll be able to say, ‘Hey, we’re permanently here and we’re not giving it up,’” said Carlos Garcia-Galan, the program executive for NASA’s moon base initiative. He envisions a vast moon base spanning hundreds of square miles, with drones, referred to as MoonFall, marking the perimeter.

International Collaboration and Goals

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman emphasized the importance of mutual respect for other nations’ spacecraft and equipment that may be in proximity to the moon base. He expressed hopes for reciprocity among international partners. The overarching goal of the moon base is to foster a lunar economy while conducting scientific research and preparing for future Mars expeditions.

“For those waiting patiently, the grand return is close at hand and we will not slow down,” Isaacman stated. “We are really just getting started.”

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