NASA announces 3 Moon missions in huge lunar base update | Science | News
NASA has announced plans for three new Moon missions as it pursues its goal of establishing humanity’s first permanent outpost beyond Earth. Uncrewed missions will go to the Moon’s south pole and are designed to test technology, transport scientific equipment and prepare the way for future astronaut landings.
The announcement was made at NASA’s headquarters in Washington; officials there also confirmed new contracts for lunar rovers and cargo landers ahead of planned crewed Artemis missions later this decade. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman described the project as humanity’s first settlement on another world and said it would pave the way for future missions to Mars. The first mission, known as ‘Moon Base I’, is planned to launch in autumn 2026 at the earliest.
It will use Blue Origin’s ‘Blue Moon Mark 1 Endurance’ lander to carry scientific instruments to the lunar surface, including cameras that will study how rocket engines interact with lunar dust during descent. The mission will also use a laser retroreflector system designed to help the spacecraft determine their position more precisely. Moon Base II is expected to arrive later in the year.
The mission will use Astrobotic’s Griffin lander to carry more than 1,100 lb of cargo, including Astrolab’s FLIP rover. NASA hopes the mission will help develop the mobility systems and technologies needed for future lunar vehicles.
The third mission, ‘Moon Base III’, will focus on scientific research. The mission will fly aboard Intuitive Machines’ Nova-C Trinity lander and carry the Lunar Vertex probe, which aims to study mysterious light-colored signatures known as lunar vortices.
It will also carry payloads from the European Space Agency and the Korea Institute of Astronomy and Space Sciences.
Alongside the mission announcements, NASA confirmed it had signed more than $600 million (£446 million) in contracts in connection with its Moon Base programme. Astrolab received a $219 million (£163 million) contract, while Lunar Outpost received $220 million (£164 million) to develop the first generation of crewed lunar rovers.
Blue Origin has been awarded $188 million (£140 million) to transport vehicles to the Moon’s south pole, with options that could significantly increase the value of the deal.
NASA has also selected Firefly Aerospace to build a spacecraft for the MoonFall mission, which is scheduled to launch in 2028 and will deploy four drones to survey future landing sites for astronauts.
The space agency hopes the missions will help establish a permanent human presence on the Moon; The Moon’s south pole is considered one of the most promising places for long-term exploration due to its water ice potential.
