NASA Formalizes Moon Base Program and Plans Sustained Lunar Presence by 2032

Overview

• NASA publicly announced the Moon Base program on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, unveiling three precursor missions called Moon Base I, II and III that are slated to fly in 2026 to deliver equipment, test landing safety and study surface performance.
• The agency laid out a three-phase roadmap: Phase 1 (2026–2029) for construction and testing with about 25 launches and 21 landings, Phase 2 (2029–2032) to build core infrastructure such as expanded solar arrays and possible fission reactors, and Phase 3 (from 2032) to maintain continuous crew rotations and regular resupply.
• NASA said it will pause the Lunar Gateway in its current form to reallocate funding and engineering focus to surface systems and habitats that support sustained human operations on the Moon.
• The agency named commercial partners and vehicles for early work, including Blue Origin’s Blue Moon Mark 1 to carry Moon Base 1, Firefly to deliver drones, Astrolab and Lunar Outpost to develop Lunar Terrain Vehicles, and General Motors as a subcontractor.
• As part of near-term steps NASA will place reusable drones and robotic systems at the South Pole to demarcate a practical operational perimeter, a tactic that strengthens U.S. presence before crews arrive and increases legal and geopolitical tensions with China over ice-rich lunar terrain.