NASA Administrator Isaacman outlines first steps toward a Moon base
NASA is preparing its first missions to create a lunar base: rovers, drones and experiments are planned to be delivered to the Moon’s south pole. As The Hill reports, NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said this infrastructure must be ready for the return of American astronauts to the lunar surface.
Infrastructure before the crew’s arrival
According to Isaacman, by the Artemis IV mission, part of the infrastructure and rovers should already be on the Moon waiting for the astronauts. NASA plans to conduct several base-related missions next year. The agency aims to launch Artemis IV in 2028; the mission is intended to return U.S. astronauts to the lunar surface for the first time in more than half a century.
Earlier, Isaacman announced his intention to build a lunar base. According to the publication, the project is meant to fulfill a U.S. Congress requirement to establish a permanent presence either in lunar orbit or on the Moon’s surface.
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Delivery delay
The NASA chief had expected to launch some elements of the base this year, but the explosion of Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket delayed some deliveries to the Moon. Isaacman said he does not consider this a significant setback. According to him, the agency was targeting 2027, when it would be possible to establish monthly deliveries of landers and rovers.
Isaacman also noted that the lunar base should help NASA learn to live beyond Earth and potentially prepare for future missions to Mars and other planets. He added that private companies are joining the space industry: SpaceX has created spaceports in Texas and Louisiana, while the industry is also developing in Alabama, Mississippi and Florida.
