NASA is moving forward with its plans to establish a permanent moon base, awarding hundreds of millions in contracts to four U.S. companies, including Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin. The agency aims to deploy landers, rovers, and drones to the lunar surface ahead of the first Artemis astronaut landing, tentatively scheduled for 2028.
Contracts for Lunar Infrastructure
Blue Origin will provide two landers designed to deliver lunar terrain vehicles built by Astrolab and Lunar Outpost. Firefly Aerospace, which successfully landed on the moon last year, will supply the first drones. This hardware is expected to arrive before Artemis astronauts touch down, marking a significant step in NASA’s goal of establishing a sustainable lunar presence.
"Then we’ll be able to say, ‘Hey, we’re permanently here and we’re not giving it up,’" said NASA’s moon base program executive Carlos Garcia-Galan.
Phased Development Towards a Lunar Economy
The moon base project will unfold in three phases. The second phase, beginning in 2029, will focus on building permanent infrastructure, including a power grid. By the 2030s, NASA envisions a sprawling base covering hundreds of square miles, complete with specialized habitats for extended astronaut stays and a perimeter monitored by drones dubbed MoonFall.
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman emphasized the base’s dual purpose: fostering a lunar economy and preparing for future Mars expeditions. "For those waiting patiently, the grand return is close at hand and we will not slow down," Isaacman said. "We are really just getting started."