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NASA unveils 16bn moon base plans as Artemis 2 mission set to launch in days

NASA has unveiled plans for a 16 billion permanent base on the Moon using robotic landers and drones, as the agency races to establish a lunar foothold before China's 2030 mission

NASA has unveiled plans to construct a 16 billion permanent base on the moon, just days ahead of a historic lunar mission. The ambitious project will utilise robotic landers and a fleet of drones, with the total cost estimated at 16 billion.

The announcement was made on Tuesday, revealing that NASA has altered its lunar exploration strategy, scrapping previous plans for a space station in lunar orbit. This strategic shift from a space station to a lunar base aims to significantly broaden humanity's footprint in space, as the US races to establish a lunar presence before China sends its own astronauts there by around 2030.

This new NASA endeavour comes just days prior to the launch of the Artemis 2 mission, set to be the first to carry humans on a lunar flyby since Apollo 17 in 1972.

[NASA's Artemis Rocket And Orion Spacecraft Rolled Out To Launchpad]

The team of astronauts behind the Artemis 2 rocket.(Image: Getty)

NASA is gearing up to launch Artemis 2 at 6.24pm Eastern Daylight Time on April 1, which translates to 11.24pm in the UK. The mission comprises a 10-day manned flight carrying four astronauts aboard the Orion spacecraft, serving as the exploration vehicle.

However, the journey of Artemis 2 carries significant risks. The crew will be flying in a spacecraft never before used by humans, and they'll face personal challenges: spending 10 days in close quarters within a spacecraft the size of a minibus.

The 10-day expedition aims to propel the crew beyond the moon, circumnavigating its far side before heading directly back to Earth, trialing essential systems such as life support. This endeavour also aims to lay the groundwork for future lunar landings, reports the Express.

[NASA's Artemis Rocket And Orion Spacecraft Rolled Out To Launchpad]

The Artemis 2 launch will take place in April.(Image: Getty)

Originally set for February, the mission was delayed after discovering a helium leak, prompting NASA to abandon the initial launch attempt.

Vanessa Wyche, director of NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, stated back in January: "For the first time in more than 50 years, these individuals - the Artemis 2 crew - will be the first humans to fly to the vicinity of the Moon. Among the crew are the first woman, first person of color, and first Canadian on a lunar mission, and all four astronauts will represent the best of humanity as they explore for the benefit of all."

[NASA Prepares To Rollout Artemis II Rocket]

NASA Prepares To Rollout Artemis II Rocket(Image: Getty)

The astronauts assigned to the mission are Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, Mission specialist 1 Christina Hammock Koch, and Mission specialist 2 Jeremy Hansen.

At the heart of the Artemis programme lies the astronaut lunar lander scheme, with Elon Musk's SpaceX and Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin racing against time to develop moon landers for NASA.

However, the two companies, each aiming for an initial crewed lunar landing in 2028, have fallen behind schedule.

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