NASA is revamping its space exploration approach with new plans to send humans back to the Moon and establish a permanent base. Over the next decade, the space agency intends to spend billions of dollars on what one official called “humanity’s first deep-space outpost.” Speaking at NASA’s “ignition” event, officials outlined plans to accelerate lunar missions, including testing nuclear-powered spacecraft in space. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman revealed that the agency will pause work on the Lunar Gateway space station, a sizable portion of which has already been built by contractors. Instead of an orbital outpost, Isaacman said NASA will use Gateway’s components to build a true lunar base on the moon's surface. It plans to invest $20 billion in the project over 7 years. “The clock is running in this great‑power competition, and success or failure will be measured in months, not years,” Isaacman stated. The project involves constructing partially livable structures on the Moon and establishing regular deliveries, including a partnership with Japan’s Aerospace Exploration Agency. The final phase will include larger equipment transfers and eventually sending humans to support a continuous presence on the Moon, shifting from short visits to a permanent base. To achieve this, the agency has already partnered with Italy and Canada and plans to add additional contributions in areas such as habitation, surface mobility, and logistics.
