NASA announced a Moon city plan to begin construction of a $20 billion lunar outpost by the end of this year and establish a permanent colony by 2032.
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said Stage One of the project would run until 2029.
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration plans to “learn, test and build” during the first phase. Isaacman said America was returning to the Moon “to stay.”
NASA wants to increase commercial lunar missions over the next three years. The agency aims to identify possible landing sites and test technology for long-term human presence.
Isaacman described the lunar surface as both beautiful and hostile for a permanent settlement.
The project is set to begin in autumn with Blue Origin’s Blue Origin Moon Mark 1 lander, named Endurance. The lander belongs to Jeff Bezos’s space company.
🇺🇸 NASA revealed a step-by-step plan for building settlements on the Moon and awarded Blue Origin contracts to help develop a future lunar base.
At this point nothing sounds impossible anymore.pic.twitter.com/fq1nAjX76F
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) May 26, 2026The recent Blue Origin rocket explosion raised concerns over possible delays to upcoming lunar missions.
NASA also aims to place MoonFall helicopter drones and uncrewed rovers on the lunar surface by 2029. The machines would search for water and other resources.
Read: Moon Ice Stored for 1.5 Billion Years, Scientists Say
The announcement came weeks after SpaceX’s governing board tied Elon Musk’s compensation to establishing a Mars colony, according to the supplied details.
