Overview

• Speaking at the International Aeronautical Congress in Sydney, Duffy said NASA intends to support sustained human life on the Moon, describing the goal as a village rather than an outpost.
• NASA’s next crewed step, Artemis II, is slated for 2026, with officials discussing an opening launch window as early as February 5 and saying the SLS rocket is largely stacked.
• Artemis III is targeted for no earlier than mid-2027 to land two astronauts near the lunar south pole using SpaceX’s Starship Human Landing System for roughly a week of surface operations.
• NASA has issued a Request for Information for a Fission Surface Power system targeting about 100 kWe and under 15 tonnes to provide reliable energy through the two-week lunar night.
• The agency is exploring in‑situ construction, citing ISS tests of cement mixing and potential 3D printing with lunar soil to build durable habitats on the surface.