NASA has revealed the next phase of its plan to build a permanent base on the Moon, outlining the vehicles, robotic landers and hopping drones it intends to send as part of the project.
Blue Origin, the space company owned by billionaire Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, is among several firms to win contracts to build the machines.
The U.S. intends to return humans to the Moon for the first time in more than 50 years with its Artemis IV mission, which is set to launch in 2028.
However, it is locked in a space race with China, which plans to send its own crewed mission to the Moon by 2030. On Sunday, Beijing launched three astronauts on a year-long mission to its space station.
NASA first announced the $20 billion plan to build a permanent base at the Moon’s south pole in March. The agency intends for the project to be completed by 2032.
“The Moon Base will be America’s and humanity’s first outpost on another celestial world,” Jared Isaacman, head of NASA, said.
Blue Origin has been awarded an initial $188 million contract to build vehicles that will be used during the base’s construction.
Two other U.S. space companies, Astrolab and Lunar Outpost, have also received contracts worth hundreds of millions of dollars to develop lunar vehicles.
NASA intends to begin sending machines to the Moon later this year to support the project. More than a dozen missions will be required to complete the base by its target date in 2032.
However, some analysts believe NASA’s ambition to complete a permanent Moon base by 2032 is unrealistic because of repeated delays to the Artemis programme, rising costs and the sheer complexity of the project. Critics point to technical setbacks affecting Artemis missions, the challenge of delivering dozens of launches and building long-term infrastructure in the Moon’s harsh environment, as well as NASA’s reliance on unproven commercial technology. Others note that parts of NASA’s own Artemis roadmap appear to extend beyond 2032, raising doubts over whether the target date can realistically be achieved.
Before astronauts return to the lunar surface, robotic landers and hopping drones will be deployed to study the terrain and reduce the risks associated with landing. Vehicles capable of carrying scientific equipment and astronauts will then be sent to support future missions.
Yemen warned the Houthis were seeking to replicate Iran's Strait of Hormuz strategy in the Red Sea, as U.S. President Donald Trump said there was a "g...
Afghanistan and Uzbekistan signed 22 trade agreements worth more than $200 million during a business forum in Kabul on Sunday, as officials from both ...
U.S. diplomats walked out of a UN Security Council meeting on Ukraine after accusing France of making "disingenuous grandstanding" by comparing Washin...
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday that there is a good chance” of reaching a deal with Iran, but warned that Washington would resume military operation if negotiations fail.
Iran will halt its own attacks as long as the United States maintains its pause on strikes, but Tehran remains sceptical of U.S. intentions, a senior Iranian source told on Sunday.
The Russia-Ukraine war is increasingly reshaping the Caspian region. From threats to energy infrastructure to renewed diplomatic efforts, countries across the region are adapting to the wider consequences of a conflict that continues to disrupt trade, transport and security.
A New York school district has put plans to introduce a humanoid robot into classrooms on hold after fierce criticism from teachers, Indigenous community members and state education officials over the use of artificial intelligence in schools.
Yemen warned the Houthis were seeking to replicate Iran's Strait of Hormuz strategy in the Red Sea, as U.S. President Donald Trump said there was a "good chance" of a deal with Tehran but warned strikes could resume if talks failed.
U.S. diplomats walked out of a UN Security Council meeting on Ukraine after accusing France of making "disingenuous grandstanding" by comparing Washington with North Korea, Russia and other authoritarian states.
Meteorologists in China have used a swarm of drones to observe Typhoon Noul as it passed through Guangdong province, aiming to improve weather monitoring and forecasting during extreme storms.
Tehran has stressed that its commercial vessel hit by a Ukrainian drone in the Caspian Sea on Saturday was carrying only civilian cargo and vowed to respond appropriately while holding Kyiv responsible for the attack.
Since 1946, nine people have served as UN Secretary-General, the closest thing the world has to a chief diplomat. The role carries no army and little hard power, yet its occupants have shaped how nations respond to war, famine and global crises. Here are five who left the deepest mark.
Two shallow earthquakes hit a remote area of China's Qinghai province on Tuesday, with authorities reporting no casualties or collapsed buildings so far.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment