NASA Unveils New Details About the Future Moon Base and the Missions Laying the Groundwork to Build It
NASA has announced new details about its future moon base and the missions that will support its construction. The first three missions are set to launch this year, involving various aerospace companies and focusing on delivering scientific instruments and rovers. The initiative aims to establish a long-term human presence on the moon, with significant investments planned over the next several years.
- ▪The first three missions of the Moon Base program are all slated to launch this year.
- ▪Moon Base 1 will involve a lunar lander built by Blue Origin, which will deliver scientific instruments to study the moon's surface.
- ▪NASA plans to invest $20 billion over the next seven years to establish a sustained human presence on the moon.
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NASA Unveils New Details About the Future Moon Base and the Missions Laying the Groundwork to Build It The first three missions are targeted to launch this year. They’ll involve lunar landers developed by several aerospace companies, including Blue Origin, and deliver scientific instruments and a rover Margherita Bassi | Daily Correspondent May 27, 2026 4:47 p.m. ShareCopy linkEmailSMSFacebookXRedditLinkedInBlueskyPrintAdd as preferred source From left: replicas of the Blue Origin lander, Astrolab rover, Lunar Outpost rover and the Firely orbiter. NASA / Aubrey Gemignani Humans are heading back to the moon, and this time, they want to maintain a long-term presence there. That means future lunar visitors will need a place to stay.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at Smithsonian Magazine.