Nasa has detailed a multi-year effort to establish a permanent base on the moon near its south pole. The announcement on 26 May outlined initial uncrewed missions starting later this year.
The agency plans three phases running through 2036. The first phase, ending in 2029, focuses on securing reliable access to the lunar surface. The second phase aims for initial operating capability by 2032, followed by construction of a base spanning hundreds of square kilometres in the final phase.
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NASA unveiled the four astronauts selected for its Artemis III mission on Tuesday at Johnson Space Center in Houston. The crew will test docking procedures with lunar landers in low Earth orbit ahead of a planned launch no earlier than summer 2027.
NASA has awarded nearly $720 million in contracts for two one-ton South Pole rovers and their Blue Origin lander delivery, signaling a narrower focus than earlier full-scale base concepts.
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NASA announced new contract awards on Tuesday for the initial elements of a planned lunar base, including two rovers and their delivery to the Moon. The moves support the agency's Moon Base initiative ahead of a crewed return scheduled for no earlier than 2028.
NASA is preparing an orbital rehearsal during the Artemis III mission in 2027 to test prototype lunar landers from SpaceX and Blue Origin. The demonstration will allow crews and ground teams to practice complex rendezvous and docking maneuvers ahead of crewed landings planned for 2028.
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New computer simulations indicate that a massive ancient collision created the Moon's South Pole-Aitken Basin and scattered deep mantle material across areas eyed for future Artemis landings.