NASA made a major announcement today that it is moving quickly toward building a long-term presence on the Moon.
Less than two months after the Artemis II mission flew astronauts around the Moon, the agency has already awarded major contracts for the first pieces of a lunar base. Companies including Blue Origin, Astrolab, Lunar Outpost, and Firefly Aerospace will supply landers, rovers, and even drones, with hardware expected to arrive before astronauts return to the lunar surface -- possibly as early as 2028.
Artemis III, planned for 2027, will test key operations, including docking spacecraft in orbit, ahead of future landings. NASA says the base will grow in phases, adding power systems and infrastructure into the early 2030s, with the goal of supporting astronauts for longer stays. Officials say the project could span hundreds of square miles, support scientific research, and help build a lunar economy -- while also laying the groundwork for future missions to Mars. (CBS News)