NASA Unveils Ambitious Plan to Build Permanent Human Base on Moon

Washington DC (US), May 28, 2026, BNN Web Staff: The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has announced an ambitious new roadmap to establish a permanent human presence on the Moon, marking one of the most significant space exploration projects in modern history.

The proposed lunar base, planned near the Moon’s south polar region, will involve robotic landers, lunar terrain vehicles, hopping drones and a series of uncrewed missions before astronauts are eventually stationed on the lunar surface.

NASA said the initiative is aimed at strengthening long-term space exploration capabilities while preparing for future human missions to Mars.

“This initiative will secure American leadership in space, unlock groundbreaking scientific discoveries, and help develop the technologies needed for future Mars missions,” the agency said in an official statement.

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman described the Moon base as humanity’s first permanent outpost beyond Earth.

“Every mission, whether crewed or uncrewed, will help us learn how to survive and operate in one of the harshest environments imaginable,” he said.

The Moon’s south pole has emerged as a major focus for global space agencies because scientists believe the region contains frozen water deposits and some of the oldest geological formations in the solar system. NASA believes samples collected there could provide key insights into the early history of the Moon and Earth.

The US space agency plans to launch three uncrewed missions — Moon Base I, II and III — later this year as part of the project.

NASA has also partnered with several private aerospace firms, including Blue Origin, Astrobotic, and Intuitive Machines, to develop lunar transport systems and robotic technologies.

The project forms part of NASA’s broader Artemis programme, which aims to return humans to the Moon and establish a sustained lunar presence before future deep-space missions.

The development comes amid an intensifying global space race, with India planning its first crewed spaceflight mission under the Gaganyaan programme in 2027, while China has also accelerated preparations for human lunar missions by 2030.