NASA has announced an ambitious plan to spend $20 billion over the next several years to build a permanent lunar base on the Moon’s surface, shifting its focus away from the previously planned Lunar Gateway orbital station.
The space agency revealed the details during a recent event in Washington, where Administrator Jared Isaacman said that NASA will accelerate moon missions and infrastructure development as part of its Artemis program, with the goal of establishing long‑term human presence on the Moon.
Under the plan, dozens of robotic and crewed missions will deliver equipment, habitats, and supplies to the lunar surface starting in the late 2020s, progressing toward a fully functioning base capable of supporting sustained astronaut stays.
This strategy aligns with NASA’s broader goal of expanding human presence beyond low‑Earth orbit, laying groundwork for future missions to Mars and strengthening U.S. leadership in space exploration.
