How NASA Plans to Build a Base on the Moon

Summary

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman outlines a phased approach to building a permanent base on the Moon, starting with frequent robotic landings in 2027 to test infrastructure, followed by crewed missions in 2028 and longer stays by the early 2030s. The plan mirrors NASA's iterative Apollo-era strategy, with each phase informing the next.

• NASA plans a near-monthly cadence of robotic landers starting in 2027 to gather data.
• Astronauts on Artemis 4 in 2028 will find pre-positioned rovers and infrastructure.
• The moon base development is split into three phases: science of survival, longer surface stays, and eventual permanent habitation.
• Phase one runs 2027-2029, phase two from 2029 to early 2030s, and phase three extends to months-long crew rotations.
• Isaacman emphasizes an iterative approach, avoiding premature lock-in on designs for power, mobility, and communications.