Future Moon Bases

This is a timely choice for Ad Astra. As of March 2026, the "Moon Base" is no longer science fiction—it is a massive, multi-billion dollar construction project currently in its "reconnaissance" phase.

Because the world is  in the middle of a new space race between the Artemis Accords (led by NASA) and the International Lunar Research Station (led by China and Russia),  this page is broken  down into the two competing visions for humanity's first off-world neighborhood.

Lunar Frontiers: The First Bases on the Moon

The 2020s will be remembered as the decade humanity stopped "visiting" the Moon and started "inhabiting" it. Unlike the Apollo missions, which were short-lived camping trips, the current missions are focused on building a permanent presence. By 2028, the first modules of human habitats are scheduled to touch down at the lunar South Pole, a region chosen for its most precious resource: water ice.

The Artemis Base Camp (NASA & Partners)

NASA’s vision for a lunar home is the Artemis Base Camp. Rather than a single "bubble dome," it is a distributed network of hardware designed for long-term survival. As of the March 2026 architecture update, the base camp consists of three primary elements:

1. The Foundation Surface Habitat (FSH): This is the "house." It is a pressurized module designed to host four astronauts for up to 30 days at a time. It will be the first permanent building on the Moon, equipped with life support, workstations, and sleeping quarters.

2. The Lunar Terrain Vehicle (LTV): Think of this as the ultimate off-road scout. It is an unpressurized rover that astronauts drive in their spacesuits, but it can also operate autonomously to haul cargo or scout landing sites when the crew isn't there.

3. The Habitable Mobility Platform: This is a "camper van" for the Moon. It is a pressurized rover that allows astronauts to live inside for up to 45 days while exploring hundreds of kilometers away from the main habitat.

The International Lunar Research Station (ILRS - China & Russia)

While NASA builds its camp, the China National Space Administration (CNSA) and Roscosmos are developing a rival project: the ILRS. This station is planned as a comprehensive scientific base that can operate autonomously for long periods.

The ILRS is being built in phases. Phase 1 (Reconnaissance) is concluding now with the success of the Chang'e-6 far-side sample return. Phase 2 (Construction) begins this year and will run through 2035. Key elements include:

• The Energy Hub: A massive solar and nuclear power station to provide constant energy during the 14-day-long lunar night.

• The Hopper: A "leaping" robot designed to hop in and out of permanently shadowed craters to extract ice.

• The Lunar Laboratory: A modular facility focused on "lunar archaeology" and using Moon rocks to build 3D-printed structures.

Why the South Pole?

Both the U.S. and China are targeting the Shackleton Crater and the surrounding ridges at the South Pole. This "prime real estate" offers two things found nowhere else:

• Peaks of Eternal Light: High ridges that receive near-constant sunlight, perfect for solar power.

• Craters of Eternal Darkness: Deep pits where the temperature never rises above -150°C, acting as "cold traps" for water ice. This ice can be melted for drinking water, split into oxygen for breathing, or converted into liquid hydrogen for rocket fuel.

The Lunar Gateway: The Station in the Sky

Crucial to the 2026-2027 timeline is the Lunar Gateway. This is a small space station that will orbit the Moon, acting as a "lobby" for the surface. Astronauts will arrive at the Gateway in their Orion capsules, transfer to a Human Landing System (like SpaceX’s Starship HLS), and then head down to the base camp.

As of this month, NASA has prioritized the PPE (Power and Propulsion Element) and HALO (Habitation and Logistics Outpost) modules, with the first core elements set to launch in 2027.

Challenges: Dust and Radiation

Building on the Moon is not easy. The Regolith (Moon dust) is like crushed glass—it is sharp, sticks to everything via static electricity, and can shred seals and spacesuits. Additionally, without a thick atmosphere or magnetic field, the Moon is bombarded by cosmic radiation. Future bases will likely be covered in meters of lunar soil or built inside Lava Tubes—natural underground tunnels—to protect the inhabitants from the sun’s rays.

Moon Base at a Glance for Ad Astra

• First Landing Site: Shackleton Crater (Lunar South Pole).

• Primary Resource: Water Ice (for fuel and life support).

• First Crewed Landing: Artemis IV (Targeted for early 2028).

• Current Occupants: 0 Humans (but dozens of robotic rovers and landers).

• Key Tech: 3D printing with lunar soil (Sintering).