NASA Details Its Plan to Build a Lunar Base at the Moon’s South Pole | WIREDSkip to main contentMenuSECURITYPOLITICSTHE BIG STORYBUSINESSSCIENCECULTUREREVIEWSMenuAccountAccountNewslettersSecurityPoliticsThe Big StoryBusinessScienceCultureReviewsChevronMoreExpandThe Big InterviewMagazineEventsWIRED InsiderWIRED ConsultingNewslettersPodcastsVideoLivestreamsMerchSearchSearchJorge GarayScienceMay 27, 2026 5:00 AMNASA Details Its Plan to Build a Lunar Base at the Moon’s South PoleThe project’s first mission could arrive as soon as this year, with a little help from Blue Origin.NASA's concept for a lunar base that it plans to build over the next few years.Courtesy of NASACommentLoaderSave StorySave this storyCommentLoaderSave StorySave this storyNASA finally presented the details of its phased plan to create the first lunar base at the moon’s south pole. Although the construction of a space research center that will allow a sustained human presence will take at least a decade, the missions that will lay its technological and symbolic foundations will start in the next few years. Among them is the test of Blue Origin's Blue Moon Mark 1 Endurance lander, scheduled for the end of 2026.The Moon Base project replaced in priority the Gateway program, an orbital station similar to the International Space Station that would serve as a node between the Earth and the moon. At the beginning of 2026, NASA rethought and simplified its strategy: It decided to concentrate resources on the lunar surface, reducing operating costs and accelerating the Artemis schedule. After weeks of silence, the agency published its new plan.A Lunar Base in 3 StepsSo far, the plan for the lunar base consists of three phases. The first, from 2026 to 2029, will be dedicated to robotic exploration and experimentation missions. In this phase, 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: at least 25 missions and 21 surface landings. Without detailing specific dates, the agency said that over the next three years it 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 the Blue Moon Mark 1 Endurance module in fall 2026. Its purpose is to evaluate conditions for a controlled descent and validate navigation and positioning technology. It will not carry astronauts. If the mission is successful, Blue Origin plans a manned version around 2028, possibly with Blue Moon Mark 2.Moon Base II and III missions are also part of the program's 2026 startup. One will send rovers and payloads to evaluate more complex rover operations; the other will 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.Phase one and two of NASA's Moon Base program contemplate ground experimentation, payload delivery, and foundation placement.
Courtesy of NASAPhase three is for scale-up. The infrastructure in place will be strengthened and expanded to form durable centers with constant turnover of personnel. NASA envisions a lunar south pole with habitable modules, reliable power systems, logistics networks for cargo and crew transportation, and the shipment of about 38 tons of cargo annually for maintenance and expansion.Phase three involves a semipermanent operations site with habitations, roads, power, and constant astronaut rotation.
Courtesy of NASA“Every mission, crewed and uncrewed, will be a learning opportunity as we return to the lunar surface, build the infrastructure to stay, and master the skills required to live and operate in one of the most demanding and dangerous environments imaginable,” said administrator Jared Isaacman in a NASA statement. “We will go for the science, for all we stand to gain from an economic and technological perspective, for the innovations that will make life better here on Earth, and to prepare for where we will inevitably go next.”This story originally appeared in WIRED en Español and has been syndicated from Spanish.CommentsBack to topTriangleYou Might Also LikeHow to find us: Add WIRED.com to your preferred sources in GoogleThese women are trying to optimize their vaginasBig Story: AI gig work is the new waiting tables—and it's soul-crushingThis summer, the American water crisis becomes realEvent: How to adapt, compete, and win in the next era of businessJorge Garay is a contributor to WIRED en Español. He specializes in technology, cybersecurity, and the legislative impact of social media. He has worked in digital media for 10 years. He is passionate about geek culture, astronomy, and the development of new communication technologies. ... Read MoreContributorTopicsspaceNASASpacecraftmoonBlue OriginRead MoreWelcome to the Great American Satellite AgeA new generation of satellite startups in San Francisco is racing to capitalize on recent technological breakthroughs in space-based data collection and communications.Paresh DaveAsteroid 2026 JH2 Is About to Fly Right Past Earth—Relatively SpeakingOn May 18, an asteroid about the size of Chicago’s Cloud Gate will fly four times closer to Earth than the moon.Anna Lisa BonfranceschiDHS Plans Experiment Running ‘Reconnaissance’ Drones Along the US-Canada BorderAutonomous drones and ground vehicles will stream “battlefield intelligence” over 5G along the US-Canada border in a bilateral DHS experiment this fall.Dell CameronMeet Rassvet, Russia’s Answer to StarlinkWith the launch of the first 16 satellites, Russia begins construction of a network for satellite internet that aims to cover the entire country by 2030. But getting there won’t be easy.Lucia BellinelloSpaceX IPO Filing Reveals Anthropic Is Paying $15 Billion a Year to Access Its Data CentersThe long-awaited documents SpaceX filed with US regulators Wednesday included details about a lucrative deal to lend GPUs to a major AI rival.Maxwell ZeffNASA’s Curiosity Rover Got Its Drill Stuck on a Rock. Here’s How They Freed ItThis is the first time NASA has encountered a situation like this, and it took nearly a week to resolve.Marta MussoMexico City Is Sinking. A Powerful NASA Satellite Just Revealed How FastA new NASA map shows how the sinking of Mexico City is uneven, with areas registering up to 2 centimeters per month.Fernanda GonzálezThe Gulf’s AI Boom Has an Undersea Cable ProblemHyperscalers are pushing the Gulf to rethink internet infrastructure as AI raises the stakes of cable disruptions.Chris Hamill-StewartThe 19 Most Exciting Cars at the Beijing Auto Show 2026The cars that debuted at the Beijing Auto Show demonstrate that the Chinese market is now at the forefront of electrification and intelligence. These are the 19 most intriguing models we saw.Daisuke TakimotoA DOGE Affiliate Is Now in Charge of the US Government’s ID PlatformGreg Hogan will oversee Login.gov as the government seeks to integrate driver’s license and passport information into the service, making what one insider calls “a national ID.”Vittoria ElliottAll Vehicles Sold in the EU Must Be Able to Hook Up to a BreathalyzerThe measure is part of a European Union–led strategy to eliminate all drunk-driving-related deaths and injuries by 2050.Fernanda GonzálezSpaceX Is Spending $2.8 Billion to Buy Gas Turbines for Its AI Data CentersThe investment comes as Elon Musk’s AI unit faces complaints about the carbon-emitting units and looks to become a big player in cloud computing.Paresh DaveWIRED is obsessed with what comes next. Through rigorous investigations and game-changing reporting, we tell stories that don’t just reflect the moment—they help create it. When you look back in 10, 20, even 50 years, WIRED will be the publication that led the story of the present, mapped the people, products, and ideas defining it, and explained how those forces forged the future. WIRED: For Future Reference.More From WIREDSubscribeNewslettersLivestreamsTravelFAQWIRED StaffWIRED EducationEditorial StandardsArchiveRSSSite MapAccessibility HelpReviews and GuidesReviewsBuying GuidesStreaming GuidesWearablesCouponsGift GuidesAdvertiseContact UsManage AccountJobsPress CenterCondé Nast StoreUser AgreementPrivacy PolicyYour California Privacy Rights© 2026 Condé Nast. All rights reserved. WIRED may earn a portion of sales from products that are purchased through our site as part of our Affiliate Partnerships with retailers. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Condé Nast. Ad ChoicesSelect international siteUnited StatesLargeChevronItaliaJapónCzech Republic & SlovakiaFacebookXPinterestYouTubeInstagramTiktok

NASA has detailed a phased strategy for constructing a lunar base at the Moon’s south pole, prioritizing the establishment of a sustained human presence over a decade, with initial foundational missions slated to begin in the coming years. This revised strategy shifted focus away from the Gateway program, an orbital station intended as a node between Earth and the Moon, to concentrate resources directly on the lunar surface to reduce operating costs and accelerate the Artemis schedule.

The plan is divided into three distinct phases. The first phase, spanning from 2026 to 2029, is dedicated to robotic exploration and experimentation. During this period, NASA and its private partners will test the necessary technologies for future crewed missions through at least 25 missions and 21 surface landings. These missions will involve sending various assets, including rovers, manned mobility models, drones, surface reactors, new-generation satellites, and payloads to prepare the ground. A critical initial test within this phase is scheduled for the fall of 2026: the testing of the Blue Moon Mark 1 Endurance module to validate navigation and positioning technologies for controlled descent. If successful, Blue Origin plans to develop manned versions of this technology around 2028, potentially incorporating the Blue Moon Mark 2. Furthermore, this phase encompasses the startup missions for Moon Base II and III, which will also occur in 2026, focusing on evaluating complex rover operations and studying the behavior of materials and systems under extreme lunar conditions.

Phase two, beginning in 2029, marks the commencement of semipermanent infrastructure assembly and initial occupancy operations. The objectives of this phase involve installing advanced energy systems, such as surface reactors, deploying initial habitat elements, and establishing more robust communication networks across the lunar surface. This period will see the delivery of up to 60 tons of cargo across 24 missions. The focus of phase one and two of the program centers on ground experimentation, payload delivery, and foundation placement necessary for the larger structure.

Phase three involves the scale-up of the infrastructure to create durable operational centers capable of sustaining personnel. NASA envisions establishing a lunar south pole featuring habitable modules, reliable power systems, sophisticated logistics networks for transporting cargo and crew, and an annual shipment of approximately 38 tons of cargo for ongoing maintenance and expansion. This final stage aims to create a semipermanent operations site equipped with habitations, necessary infrastructure like roads and power systems, and systems for constant astronaut rotation. Administrator Jared Isaacman emphasized that every mission, whether crewed or uncrewed, serves as a learning opportunity in mastering the skills required to operate in a demanding environment, aiming for scientific and technological advancements that benefit humanity and prepare for future endeavors.