NASA has announced a three-phase plan to establish a permanent research base on the Moon as part of its long-term effort to study human habitation beyond Earth.
The announcement follows the Artemis-2 mission, in which four astronauts recently travelled around the Moon—marking a major step after 54 years and bringing the crew close to the lunar environment.
According to NASA, the proposed base on the lunar surface will be equipped with rovers, drones and other advanced tools. Rovers are vehicles fitted with cameras, sensors and robotic arms designed to collect rocks and soil, while drones are small unmanned aircraft.
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said the Moon base would become humanity’s first permanent outpost in another world and help researchers understand how people can live and work in the Moon’s harsh conditions.
NASA said it plans to spend about Rs 1.70 lakh crore on the project. The agency’s stated goal is to land astronauts on the Moon in 2028, and it plans to send three spacecraft this year to test technologies and lay the groundwork for future crewed missions.
