NASA announces Moon Base plans to support sustained human presence on the Moon

Washington (ANTARA) - The United States’ National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) announced its Moon Base initiative on Tuesday (26 May), outlining plans to establish a sustained human presence at the Moon’s South Pole. The initiative forms part of the Artemis exploration program.

During a press conference at their headquarters in Washington DC, NASA officials presented the agency’s strategy and roadmap for developing lunar infrastructure to support long-term human exploration, scientific research, and commercial activities on the Moon.

According to NASA, the Moon Base will be developed in three phases. The first phase, running until 2029, focuses on robotic exploration and technology demonstrations. The second phase, from 2029 to 2032, aims to deploy initial habitat systems along with power and communication infrastructure. The third phase, starting after 2032, seeks to establish a sustained human presence on the Moon and advance technologies for utilising lunar resources.

NASA stated that the Moon’s South Pole was chosen due to its extended sunlight exposure, which is advantageous for solar power generation and provides more stable thermal conditions for surface operations. The region is also scientifically significant as it is near some of the Moon’s oldest terrain, part of the largest known impact basin in the solar system. Samples from this area could offer new insights into the early history of the Moon, the Earth-Moon system, and solar system evolution, NASA said.

The agency added that the Moon Base will serve as a hub for science, technology demonstrations, and exploration, advancing deep space mission technologies and fostering a growing lunar economy. NASA stated that commercial partners and international collaborators will play a key role in developing the Moon Base and associated infrastructure.