NASA Details Its Plan to Build a Lunar Base at the Moon’s South Pole

NASA has finally presented the details of its ambitious plan to construct a lunar base at the moon's south pole, a project that promises to mark a significant milestone in space exploration. The construction of a space research center that will enable a sustained human presence on the lunar surface is expected to take at least a decade, but the missions that will lay its technological and symbolic foundations are set to commence in the next few years. The lunar base project has taken precedence over the Gateway program, an orbital station similar to the International Space Station that would serve as a node between Earth and the moon.

In early 2026, NASA rethought and simplified its strategy, concentrating resources on the lunar surface to reduce operating costs and accelerate the Artemis schedule. Following weeks of silence, the agency has now published its new plan. The plan for the lunar base consists of three phases.

The first phase, spanning from 2026 to 2029, will be dedicated to robotic exploration and experimentation missions. During this period, NASA and its private partners will test the technologies needed for future manned missions. According to a recent press conference, phase one will be particularly active, with at least 25 missions and 21 surface landings planned.

The agency will send rovers, including manned models for future mobility, drones, surface reactors, new-generation satellites, and payloads to prepare the ground. One of the first key missions will be the test of Blue Origin's Blue Moon Mark 1 Endurance lander in fall 2026. The purpose of this mission is to evaluate conditions for a controlled descent and validate navigation and positioning technology, without carrying astronauts.

If the mission is successful, Blue Origin plans to launch a manned version around 2028, possibly with Blue Moon Mark 2. Additionally, Moon Base II and III missions are part of the program's 2026 startup, which will send rovers and payloads to evaluate more complex rover operations and carry scientific instruments to study the behavior of materials and systems under extreme lunar conditions. Phase two, starting in 2029, marks the beginning of semipermanent infrastructure assembly and first occupancy operations.

NASA plans to install advanced energy systems, including surface reactors, initial habitat elements, and more robust communication networks. Up to 60 tons of cargo will be delivered in 24 missions during this period. The first two phases of NASA's Moon Base program contemplate ground experimentation, payload delivery, and foundation placement, laying the groundwork for a sustainable human presence on the lunar surface.