NASA unveils next steps for permanent Moon base amid race with China

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.

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Two other U.S. space companies, Astrolab and Lunar Outpost, have also received contracts worth hundreds of millions of dollars to develop lunar vehicles.

Robotic missions planned before human landings

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.

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