NASA Details Multi-Phase Moon Base Program and 2026 Missions

NASA is advancing a multi-stage Moon Base initiative, with the first three missions scheduled for 2026 and a long-term plan for sustained lunar operations. The program aims to establish infrastructure and continuous activities near the lunar South Pole.

The agency announced Moon Base I, II, and III during an event at NASA Headquarters on May 26, 2026. These missions represent the initial steps in a series of launches and technology demonstrations that form the foundation of the Moon Base project.

Moon Base I is targeted for launch no earlier than fall 2026, using Blue Origin’s Blue Moon Mark 1 Endurance lander to transport NASA payloads to the Shackleton Connecting Ridge. Moon Base II, also planned for 2026, will deliver more than 1,100 pounds of cargo on Astrobotic’s Griffin lander, including the Astrolab FLIP rover.

Moon Base III is scheduled for 2026 as well, carrying the Lunar Vertex payload aboard Intuitive Machines’ Nova-C Trinity lander. This mission will include equipment and contributions from the European Space Agency and the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute.

What the numbers show

• Phase One (now-2029) includes up to 25 missions and 21 landings
• Four tons of payload are planned for delivery during Phase One
• Phase Three envisions up to 38 tons of cargo delivered annually

The Moon Base program was first introduced at NASA’s “Ignition” event on March 24, 2026. Since then, the agency has outlined a phased, iterative approach, beginning with robotic missions and technology demonstrations before moving toward semi-permanent infrastructure and human activities.

Phase One, running through 2029, includes a mix of crewed and autonomous rover deployments, as well as demonstrations of power, navigation, and communications systems. According to NASA, these efforts are designed to support future phases focused on habitation and logistics.

By 2029, the second phase is planned to begin, with assembly of semi-permanent infrastructure and the start of early habitation operations. The third phase, set for 2032 and beyond, envisions continuous human presence, routine crew rotations, and the use of semi-permanent habitation modules and fission surface power.

NASA has stated that the Moon Base is expected to cover hundreds of square miles near the lunar South Pole. The agency’s plans include regular cargo deliveries and ongoing surface activity as the program progresses through its phases.

* This article is based on publicly available information at the time of writing.