NASA is preparing to hold a press conference to reveal its strategy for establishing a permanent moon base. The agency’s “Moon Base” project aims to facilitate long-term human presence and enhance scientific and commercial activities at the lunar South Pole.
This announcement follows the recent success of NASA’s Artemis II moon mission, where four astronauts completed a 10-day crewed lunar flyby, marking the first human visit to the Moon since 1972.
Jared Isaacman, NASA’s administrator, has outlined the three phases of the Moon Base initiative, with a dedicated website launched to provide detailed information. The phases are as follows:
– Phase One (Now – 2029): Focuses on conducting robotic missions to investigate the lunar South Pole, test technologies, and prepare for future astronaut missions.
– Phase Two (2029 – 2032): Involves setting up semi-permanent infrastructure and initiating early habitation and logistical operations.
– Phase Three (2032 and beyond): Aims to establish a sustained human presence through regular crew rotations and continuous surface activities, making living and working on the Moon a reality.
Isaacman emphasized the challenges of lunar conditions, describing the Moon as both beautiful and hostile due to extreme temperature variations and lack of atmosphere. He highlighted the significance of the permanently shaded craters, which remain untouched by sunlight for millions of years.
The ongoing NASA briefing on the Moon Base plans is being livestreamed on NASA+ and the agency’s YouTube channel. NASA is expected to provide updates on the initiative, emphasizing the importance of lunar exploration for scientific discoveries, economic benefits, and future crewed missions to Mars.
The news briefing, scheduled for 2pm EDT (7pm BST) today, will take place at NASA’s headquarters in Washington, highlighting progress towards establishing a sustained presence on the lunar surface.