NASA’s 2026 Moon Base Missions: A Roadmap to Artemis
NASA has officially unveiled its first three Moon Base missions, setting the stage for a crewed Artemis landing in 2028. These missions, targeting the Moon’s South Pole, are described as “the first of more than a dozen missions that will be announced this year.” Each mission carries unique payloads and scientific instruments designed to study lunar surface interactions, test new rovers, and gather critical data for future human exploration.
Moon Base I: Blue Origin’s Blue Moon Lander
Launching no earlier than fall 2026, Moon Base I will utilize Blue Origin’s Blue Moon Mark 1 Endurance lander. NASA payloads include the Stereo Camera for Lunar Plume-Surface Studies and the Laser Retroreflective Array. These instruments will help scientists analyze how thruster plumes interact with the lunar surface and allow orbiting spacecraft to pinpoint locations using reflected laser light.
Key Scientific Goals
- Study thruster-surface interactions for safer landings
- Improve navigational precision for lunar orbiters
Moon Base II: Astrobotic’s Griffin Lander and the FLIP Rover
Moon Base II, launching later this year, will deliver over 1,100 pounds of cargo aboard Astrobotic’s Griffin lander. The payload includes Astrolab’s FLIP rover, which will inform future lunar terrain vehicle (LTV) operations. These LTVs are the next-generation rovers astronauts will use during Artemis missions.
Rover Development Updates
NASA has awarded $219 million to Astrolab and $220 million to Lunar Outpost to build two new Moon rovers. An additional $188 million went to Blue Origin for delivery. Astrolab’s Crewed Lunar Vehicle (CLV-1) is designed to transport astronauts and supplies. Lunar Outpost’s Pegasus rover supports manual, autonomous, and remote driving. Both rovers will undergo 18 months of design finalization, crewed evaluations, and flight qualification.
Moon Base III: International Collaboration with Lunar Vertex
Also targeted for this year, Moon Base III will carry payloads for NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA), and the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute. The centerpiece is Lunar Vertex, flying on Intuitive Machines’ Nova-C Trinity lander. It will study lunar swirls—light spots on the Moon’s surface—to improve understanding of surface evolution and material behavior under extreme conditions.
Additional NASA Mission Updates
Beyond the Moon Base missions, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory has selected Firefly Aerospace to build the spacecraft for its MoonFall drones, with a launch planned for 2028. After landing, these drones will capture high-resolution imagery of hard-to-reach terrain and operate a “survive-the-night payload” for several months.
Why This Matters for Artemis 2028
These missions are critical stepping stones for the crewed Artemis landing. Each test provides data on surface conditions, rover performance, and landing precision. With international partners and private companies like Blue Origin, Astrobotic, and Intuitive Machines, NASA is building a sustainable lunar presence that will support long-term exploration and scientific discovery.
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