NASA advances $30 billion Moon base construction

NASA’s $30 billion lunar‑base program has entered an intensive implementation phase. The agency awarded roughly $590 million to three U.S. companies—Astrobotic, Firefly and Intuitive Machines—for four delivery missions that will transport scientific instruments, cargo, rovers and other hardware to the Moon’s surface. These contracts are part of the first phase, slated to run until 2028 and budgeted at about $10 billion, with the goal of establishing the infrastructure needed for future human habitats.

Robotic rovers and drones will be used to map the future site, while additional contracts worth over $1 billion have been allocated for building lunar‑rover vehicles and aerial mapping systems. The long‑term vision includes pressurised living modules and power generators in the 2030s, enabling astronauts to live and work in “semi‑permanent” settlements.

The programme faces technical setbacks, notably Blue Origin’s failure in May when a New Glenn launch vehicle exploded on the pad, delaying the planned delivery of its Blue Moon lander. NASA’s Administrator Jared Isaacman said the agency will pursue alternative launch options and continue close collaboration with its private partners, including SpaceX’s Starship development, to keep the schedule on track. The effort also serves to maintain U.S. leadership in space amid growing competition from China.