NASA Solidifies First Moon Base Missions: What to Know

Three major unmanned missions will pave the way beginning in late 2026.

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman, with acting Associate Administrator Lori Glaze and Moon Base Program Executive Carlos Garcia-Galan, at a news conference on plans for the agency’s Moon Base initiative at NASA headquarters in Washington on May 26, 2026. Jonathan Ernst/Reuters

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman, with acting Associate Administrator Lori Glaze and Moon Base Program Executive Carlos Garcia-Galan, at a news conference on plans for the agency’s Moon Base initiative at NASA headquarters in Washington on May 26, 2026. Jonathan Ernst/Reuters

Concrete work toward humanity’s first moon base will begin around the lunar south pole this year, NASA leadership announced on May 26.

Beginning this fall and continuing through the end of the year, three unmanned missions will venture to Shackleton Crater, the area of the moon targeted for the first human landing since 1972.