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NASA's Moon Base Plans: What to Expect
NASA is gearing up for a permanent Moon base with three key missions this year. Discover how these missions will set the stage for a crewed landing in 2028.
Upcoming Lunar Missions
NASA has announced a series of lunar missions aimed at establishing a permanent base on the Moon. These missions are crucial for the upcoming crewed Artemis landing scheduled for 2028, starting with three significant Moon Base missions this year.
- Moon Base I: Launching no earlier than fall 2026, this mission will utilize Blue Origin’s Blue Moon Mark 1 Endurance lander to deliver essential payloads, including instruments for studying lunar surface interactions.
- Moon Base II: Set to launch later this year, it will transport over 1,100 pounds of cargo using Astrobotic’s Griffin lander, including a rover designed to assist in future lunar operations.
- Moon Base III: Also targeted for this year, this mission will carry payloads from NASA, ESA, and the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute, focusing on lunar surface studies.