About Moon Base Programme:
- It is one of NASA’s most ambitious programmes, which aims to establish a sustained human presence near the lunar South Pole.
- Moon Base is humanity’s first lunar outpost, a place where astronauts will live, work, and explore near the Moon’s South Pole, an area that was first accessed by India’s Chandrayaan-3 mission in August 2023.
- The South Pole of the Moon is important because of water ice in permanently shadowed regions, its scientific value, and potentially useful lunar resources.
- Through a series of crewed and uncrewed missions, NASA and its partners will build the infrastructure needed to support a sustained human presence on the Moon, unlock new scientific discoveries, and prepare for future exploration of Mars.
- The Moon Base will be built step by step using a phased approach.
- Phase One (Now–2029): Gain Reliable Access, Experiment, and Learn:
- Robotic missions will explore the lunar South Pole, demonstrate new technologies, and gather the knowledge needed to guide future development.
- NASA will identify promising locations for future infrastructure, improve mission capabilities, and reduce risk before astronauts arrive.
- Phase Two (2029–2032): Build and Expand
- Building on what is learned during Phase One, NASA will begin deploying the first infrastructure needed to support long-term operations on the Moon.
- Early power systems, cargo transportation, logistics, and communications capabilities will expand humanity’s footprint on the Moon and enable increasingly complex missions.
- Phase Three (2032 and Beyond): Live and Work on the Moon:
- With the Moon Base’s foundational infrastructure in place, NASA will begin assembling a permanent lunar outpost where astronauts can live and work for extended periods.
- Habitats, power systems, communications, transportation, and other critical capabilities will come together to support an enduring human presence near the Moon’s South Pole.
