NASA announced a detailed three‑phase strategy to build the first permanent human settlement on the Moon, targeting the South Pole region. The plan moves from robotic scouting missions through semi‑permanent habitats to a fully staffed base with nuclear power, aiming to support crew rotations by the early 2030s. International partners and private companies will supply key technologies, from drones to fission reactors.

Phase 1 robotic ops and the MoonFall drone fleet (through 2029)

During the initial stage, NASA will launch robotic landers, communication satellites and four highly mobile drones under the MoonFall mission, according to the agency’s roadmap. The drones,built on Ingenuity Mars Helicopter technology, will spend about 14 Earth days mapping steep, permanently shadowed craters that rovers cannot reach. NASA expects to deliver roughly four tons of payloads to test navigation, power and communications in the harsh lunar night.

Phase 2 semi‑permanent infrastructure and JAXA’s pressurized rover (2029‑2032)

The second phase shifts focus to larger solar arrays and the first nuclear surface power units, potentially fission reactors , to provide continuous energy through long lunar nights. A notable addition is a pressurized rover from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), designed as a mobile habitat and laboratory for two astronauts on 30‑day missions. The rover can survive 150 hours in total shadow and is projected to operate for a decade, extending human reach far beyond the landing site.

Phase 3 permanent base with 38 tons of annual cargo (from 2032 onward)

In the final stage, NASA plans to establish a continuously occupied outpost with routine crew rotations and long‑duration stays. Fully operational fission power systems will sustain the base through extended lunar nights, while autonomous and crewed vehicles will handle a projected 38 tons of cargo delivered each year. This infrastructure is intended to serve as a springboard for deeper missions, especially to Mars.

Who’s backing the lunar vision? Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos and international agencies

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman described the effort as turning “the near impossible into the possible,” and the plan has drawn praise from SpaceX founder Elon Musk , who called it “inspiring.” Blue Origin’s Jeff Bezos highlighted that regular lunar access is a prerequisite for permanence.. The roadmap relies on a global network of innovators, including other space agencies, academic institutions and private industry partners, to share the technological and financial load.

What remains uncertain about the lunar base timeline?

Key open questions include the exact timeline for deploying the first fission reactors and whether the projected 38 tons of annual cargo can be reliably launched given current launch vehicle capacities. The source does not specify which private launch providers will handle the bulk of cargo deliveries, nor does it confirm the final design of the permanent habitat modules.

According to NASA’s release, the phased approach is designed to mitigate risk by validating each technology before scaling up. As the agency coordinates with international and commercial partners, the success of each milestone will be closely watched by both the scientific community and the broader public.