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With a $20 billion investment, NASA plans the 1st permanent human lunar base in seven years. Understand the new space race against the clock.
NASA revealed, at the end of March 2026, a change in its space exploration strategy: the focus is now on creating the first fixed and permanent human base on the lunar surface. With an approximate budget of 20 billion dollars, the new proposal replaces the old plan to maintain a station only in lunar orbit, as reported by the website Último Segundo.
The central objective, according to the agency, is to accelerate the resumption of activities on the satellite’s surface, transforming traditional quick visits and robotic explorations into a lasting and sustainable occupation. This move comes at a time of intense geopolitical pressure and precedes the anticipated launch of the Artemis II Mission.
More than a scientific achievement, the project is treated as a national imperative to ensure that the United States maintains its prominent position in the face of advances by other nations. According to the established timeline, the complete infrastructure should be erected over the next seven years.
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Geopolitics and the new dispute for lunar soil
The establishment of this permanent base is seen as a direct response to the movements of global competitors. While NASA races to consolidate its structure, China is working on a project to carry out lunar landings by the year 2030.
At the same time, Russia has announced intentions to build a nuclear power plant at the moon’s south pole, aiming to support its own research station by 2036. In this scenario of rivalry, the agency’s director, Jared Isaacman, emphasized the urgency of accelerating processes.
He stated that the institution is committed to returning to the Moon before the end of President Trump’s term, reinforcing the importance of collective alignment:
“NASA is committed to achieving the near impossible once again: returning to the Moon before the end of President Trump’s term, building a lunar base, establishing a permanent presence, and doing whatever it takes to ensure American leadership in space. That is why it is essential that we conclude an event like Ignition with full alignment regarding the national imperative that is our collective mission. Time is running out in this great power competition, and success or failure will be measured in months, not years.”
NASA’s timeline for definitive occupation
The implementation of this outpost will not happen all at once, being divided into three fundamental stages to ensure that the transition between remote exploration and human life is safe and efficient.
The action plan is structured as follows:
- Phase One: Focused on building, conducting rigorous tests, and promoting technical learning.
- Phase Two: Dedicated to establishing the foundations and initial basic infrastructure on the lunar surface.
- Phase Three: Final stage that will enable long-duration human residence on the satellite.
Technology and the future beyond Earth’s orbit
The construction of the permanent base signals that the Moon has ceased to be merely an observation destination to officially become the new frontier of human habitation. Different from anything done in the past, the new approach focuses on permanence as a laboratory for the future.
The installation of a fixed base also directly impacts future exploration of Mars. Through a great technological leap, NASA intends to use the learning on the Moon to enable the first crewed missions to the red planet.
Thus, the billion-dollar investment is justified by the creation of a logistical infrastructure that will serve as a springboard for humanity to reach even more distant destinations in the solar system.
With information from Último Segundo
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