NASAは、月南極付近に恒久的な基地を建設するための複数年にわたる取り組みを詳細に明らかにしました。5月26日の発表では、今年後半から始まる初期の無人ミッションの概要が示されました。
同機関は2036年まで続く3つのフェーズを計画しています。2029年に終了する第1フェーズでは、月面への確実なアクセス手段の確保に重点が置かれます。第2フェーズでは2032年までに初期運用能力の獲得を目指し、最終フェーズでは数百平方キロメートルに及ぶ基地の建設が行われる予定です。
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NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman announced the Ignition initiative on March 24, canceling the Lunar Gateway orbiting station to focus on a $20 billion three-phase moon base on the lunar surface. The shift, echoing Trump administration budget proposals, supports frequent Artemis crewed landings amid competition from China and preparations for the first crewed Artemis mission with a launch window opening April 1.
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's Artemis II mission has reached day six, with its four-person crew nearing the far side of the moon. The spacecraft remains on track for a lunar flyby while the astronauts share images and videos of Earth. They are also testing systems for future missions and addressing a toilet issue.
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NASA released 22 photos on Tuesday from the Artemis II crew's historic lunar flyby on Monday, showcasing stunning views of the Moon and Earth. The White House shared images from the far side of the Moon, including the first such photo captured by the Orion spacecraft. The mission broke the record for the farthest distance traveled from Earth by humans.
NASA's Artemis II crew—commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, mission specialists Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen—is in quarantine at Kennedy Space Center, with the Space Launch System rocket returned to the pad after repairs. Launch opportunities open as early as April 1 for the first human lunar trip since 1972, featuring a flyby of the moon's far side.
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NASA announced on Tuesday that it will pause development of the Gateway lunar space station and repurpose its Power and Propulsion Element for SR-1 Freedom, a nuclear-electric propulsion demonstration mission to Mars launching before the end of 2028. The spacecraft will carry Skyfall helicopters to scout subsurface water ice and landing sites. Officials described the move as leveraging existing hardware to prove nuclear power in deep space.