NASA Details Three Uncrewed Missions to Scout Lunar Base Site

NASA announced on 26 May that three uncrewed missions will launch this year to collect data on potential landing sites and test autonomous rovers for a future lunar base. The missions form the first phase of a three-stage program. Phase one runs through 2029 and focuses on securing reliable surface access.

Phase two extends to 2032 for initial base operations, and phase three targets construction of a base hundreds of square kilometres in size near the lunar south pole by 2036.

For 2026 Moon Base I, the first mission, is set for late 2026 and will use a lander from Blue Origin. Moon Base II and III will follow later in the year using landers from Astrobotic and Intuitive Machines, respectively. Each mission will carry instruments to study surface conditions and reduce risks for later landings.

Astrobotic will also deploy an autonomous rover; Intuitive Machines has conducted two prior lunar landing attempts.

NASA awarded Astrolab and Lunar Outpost more than $200 million each to develop lunar terrain vehicles under the Commercial Lunar Payload Services programme. Astrolab’s vehicle is designed to carry up to 1,000 kilograms at nearly 10 kilometres per hour; Lunar Outpost’s vehicle will travel faster than 14 kilometres per hour and operate autonomously.

The agency also provided details on the MoonFall mission, which will send four drones built at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory to hop across the surface in 2028. Firefly Aerospace will supply the spacecraft that carries the drones to the moon. No new information was released on power systems, construction methods, or radiation shielding for the eventual base.