The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has unveiled an ambitious plan to build a city on the lunar surface within the next six years. The plan was announced just weeks after SpaceX’s board linked Elon Musk’s compensation to establishing a colony on Mars.
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman revealed that the process of building a $20 billion outpost on the Moon would begin by the end of this year, adding that the first stage would continue until 2029.
The US space agency plans to “learn, test and build” during the first phase.
Isaacman said: “America is going back to the Moon. And this time, to stay there.”
NASA plans to establish a permanent lunar colony by 2032, with the agency aiming to increase the number of commercial lunar missions over the next three years to discover potential landing zones and test new technologies.
Describing lunar conditions hostile to a permanent human presence, the 43-year-old, 15th head of NASA, said the city on the Moon would be as beautiful as it was hostile.
The project will begin in the fall when Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin launches its Blue Moon Mark 1 lander, named Endurance.
Despite careful planning, the recent explosion of the Blue Origin rocket has sparked fears that it could potentially delay upcoming lunar missions.
NASA aims to have a significant number of MoonFall helicopters and unmanned rovers on the lunar surface by 2029 to continuously search for water and other resources.
