We will build a village on the Moon by 2035 — a permanent, self-sustaining human presence
NASA administrator Sean Duffy says the agency plans a sustainable, permanent outpost on the lunar surface within the next decade, with the goal of a full lunar village by 2035. "We are going to have sustained human life on the Moon. Not just an outpost, but a village," he told fellow panelists at the International Astronautical Congress in Sydney. The conference's theme was Sustainable Space: Resilient Earth, and NASA's focus was on exploration. The village would be nuclear-powered and built from materials found on the lunar surface, designed to house astronauts permanently, including during the Moon's lengthy nights. Artemis II is planned for February 2026, sending four astronauts on the first lunar visit in more than 50 years. The mission will test key systems on a 10-day journey past the Moon without a landing.
In This Article:
- Artemis II in February 2026: testing life support and systems on a lunar flyby
- Artemis III and the seven-day south-pole mission: a milestone toward a permanent base
- Fission power on the Moon: powering a village with lunar-based reactors
- From Apollo to a sustainable lunar civilization: why this matters
Artemis II in February 2026: testing life support and systems on a lunar flyby
Artemis II, scheduled for February 2026, will send four astronauts on a roughly 10-day lunar flyby to test the Space Launch System and Orion. The crew will travel about 5,700 miles (9,200 km) beyond the Moon to test onboard systems and assess the crew's responses. This mission will not land on the Moon; it is a crucial stepping stone toward Artemis III, the mission that aims to place humans on the lunar surface again in mid-2027. NASA's leadership frames success in the next decade as sustaining human life on the Moon, moving from short tests to a permanent settlement.
Artemis III and the seven-day south-pole mission: a milestone toward a permanent base
Artemis III, planned for mid-2027, aims to land two astronauts at a site near the Moon's south pole and keep them there for about seven days. The extended stay will deepen scientific understanding of the polar region and help establish the capabilities needed for a self-sustaining base. The data collected will guide the design and construction of a durable habitat and the resource strategies for a permanent lunar outpost.
Fission power on the Moon: powering a village with lunar-based reactors
In August, NASA issued a directive to become the first nation to place a nuclear reactor on the Moon to support a permanent settlement. NASA issued a Request For Information for a Fission Surface Power System: under 15 tonnes and capable of producing 100 kWe to power a base through the 14-day lunar night. The agency is also exploring how to mix lunar soil with other materials to create cement and habitable structures, potentially 3D-printed from lunar soil and water found at the South Pole. This power approach would help sustain long-term habitation and could inform future Mars missions.
From Apollo to a sustainable lunar civilization: why this matters
The Apollo program landed 12 astronauts on the Moon between 1969 and 1972; Neil Armstrong announced, "That's one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind." Sean Duffy has insisted NASA will "win the second space race" and return to the Moon with Artemis, promising that, this time, when we plant our flag, we stay. The bold plan marks a shift from brief visits to long-term habitation, using the Moon as a stepping stone toward future Mars exploration.
