Trending Now - NASA Unveils Vision for Future Lunar Base Missions

WHO:

Fast Company - NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman announced the plans for the Moon Base.

Fast Company - Moon Base program manager Carlos García-Galán outlined the phases of the Moon Base project.

WHAT:

Sky and Telescope - NASA announced a new plan for sustained lunar presence involving rovers, drones, and landers.

Fast Company - The Moon Base will occupy hundreds of square miles and house future Artemis crews.

Fast Company - Phase one of the Moon Base project will use 25 launches and 21 landings to deliver approximately 4.5 tons of equipment and instruments to the lunar surface.

Fast Company - Phase two will involve 27 launches and 24 landings, increasing cargo hauls to 66 tons.

Fast Company - Phase three will engage 29 launches and 28 landings, with cargo hauls reaching 165 tons.

Fast Company - NASA awarded Astrolab $219 million and Lunar Outpost $220 million to build and deliver the first phase of Lunar Terrain Vehicles (LTVs) by 2028.

Fast Company - NASA awarded Blue Origin $188 million for two task orders to deliver rovers to the lunar south pole in 2028.

Fast Company - NASA awarded Firefly Aerospace a $75 million subcontract to deliver drones to the moon in 2028.

WHERE:

Fast Company - The Moon Base will be located on the lunar surface, specifically at the Shackleton Connecting Ridge at the lunar south pole.

WHEN:

Fast Company - Phase one of the Moon Base project is expected to run through 2029.

Fast Company - Phase two will take place from 2029 to 2032.

Fast Company - Phase three will commence from 2032 onward.

Fast Company - NASA plans to announce crew members for Artemis III at a live-streamed event on June 9.

Fast Company - Hardware for the 2028 Artemis IV and V crewed missions is already being transported to Kennedy Space Center.

WHY:

Fast Company - The Moon Base aims to fuel a lunar economy, assert America’s dominance in space, and serve as a springboard to Mars.

Fast Company - NASA's strategy was revamped to gain a better understanding of the lunar environment and how to survive it.

HOW:

Fast Company - NASA's approach includes more than a dozen mission announcements expected this year to generate operational data and reduce risk for astronauts.

Fast Company - The first assembly mission will utilize Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket and Blue Moon Mark 1 Endurance lander to deliver payloads to the lunar surface.

(UPDATED May 29, 2026 19:50 UTC)

NASA has unveiled an ambitious plan for a Moon Base that will span hundreds of square miles at the Shackleton Connecting Ridge near the lunar south pole, with the first phase set to run through 2029. This project will involve multiple phases, starting with 25 launches to deliver approximately 4.5 tons of equipment, followed by increased cargo hauls in subsequent phases, and is supported by significant contracts awarded to various companies for the development of lunar vehicles and rovers. Additionally, NASA plans to announce the crew members for Artemis III during a live-streamed event on June 9, while hardware for the upcoming Artemis IV and V missions is already being transported to Kennedy Space Center.