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NASA is moving ahead with plans to establish a long-term presence near the Moon’s South Pole, with more than 20 robotic landing missions planned through 2029 to deliver equipment, conduct scientific research and test technologies for future human missions.
The planned lunar base is expected to support scientific research, technology development and, eventually, sustained human activity on the Moon.
NASA is working with commercial partners including Blue Origin, Firefly Aerospace, Intuitive Machines and Voyager Technologies, which are developing lunar landers for missions through 2028. Their spacecraft will deliver infrastructure, scientific instruments and other equipment needed to establish a reliable foothold on the lunar surface.
The missions form the first phase of NASA’s Moon Base architecture, which is already underway and is scheduled to continue through 2029.
Before astronauts arrive, robotic spacecraft will study the lunar environment, demonstrate new technologies and begin deploying infrastructure needed for future crewed operations.
NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) programme is expected to provide regular cargo deliveries, creating a dependable supply chain between Earth and the Moon.
Blue Origin is preparing its Blue Moon MK1 lander for its first planned lunar mission, Endurance.
The lander has completed several environmental tests, including thermal-vacuum testing at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. Its main structure, propulsion systems and avionics have been assembled, while additional integration and payload wiring tests are underway.
Endurance has also completed communications testing with NASA’s satellite and deep-space networks. A major test ahead of launch preparations will involve loading its cryogenic propellants.
The mission is designed to demonstrate precision landing, study the lunar environment and test autonomous systems that could be used in future Moon Base operations.
Firefly Aerospace is preparing Blue Ghost Mission 2, following the success of its first lunar landing.
The mission will use a larger spacecraft designed to operate on the far side of the Moon. Blue Ghost will be mounted on Firefly’s Elytra orbital vehicle, which will allow payloads to be deployed both in lunar orbit and on the surface.
Blue Ghost Mission 2 is planned to make the first US landing on the far side of the Moon. Scientists hope to study the region’s geology and gain insights into the early universe during the cosmic Dark Ages.
The spacecraft will carry three NASA payloads focused on scientific research and technology demonstrations for future lunar infrastructure.
Intuitive Machines is preparing its third Nova-C lunar landing mission, IM-3, which will deploy the company’s first lunar data relay satellite, Altus-1.
The Nova-C lander, named Trinity, is undergoing assembly and testing as the company works toward providing regular science and cargo deliveries to the Moon.
IM-3 will place Altus-1 into lunar orbit and deliver five NASA payloads, six commercial payloads and one civil payload to the surface.
The mission will also study Reiner Gamma, a distinctive magnetic feature on the Moon. It is expected to be the first mission to explore the surface of a lunar swirl, potentially offering new insights into the mysterious formation.
Voyager Technologies is testing its Griffin-1 lunar lander at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California ahead of a planned late-2026 mission.
The lander is designed to transport large infrastructure-related payloads and is expected to deliver the largest commercial payload ever placed on the lunar surface.
Five NASA payloads will be installed on the Astrolab FLIP rover, which will test lunar mobility and technologies needed for longer-term surface operations.
Griffin-1 has completed mass-properties testing used to support navigation, guidance and flight control. Further environmental testing will simulate conditions from launch through lunar landing.
NASA is also working with Northrop Grumman on three technology demonstrations that will be delivered to the lunar surface.
The projects adapt power and avionics systems originally developed for NASA’s Gateway programme for use on the Moon. The demonstrations will test equipment designed to withstand the harsh lunar environment, including extremely cold lunar nights and prolonged periods of darkness.
NASA and Northrop Grumman will also test shared power systems that could eventually provide electricity to scientific instruments and other Moon Base equipment.
Together, NASA’s robotic missions, commercial landers and technology demonstrations are intended to gradually establish the infrastructure needed for a long-term human presence on the Moon.
The agency aims to create a sustainable system in which robotic spacecraft handle cargo deliveries and infrastructure development while preparing the lunar surface for future crewed missions and continued scientific exploration.