The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has presented an ambitious plan to build a city on the lunar surface in the next six years. The plan was announced just weeks after SpaceX’s board tied Elon Musk’s compensation to establishing a colony on Mars.
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman revealed that the process to build a $20 billion Moon outpost would begin later this year, adding that the first stage would extend until 2029.
The US space agency plans to “learn, test and build” during the first phase.
Isaacman said: “America is returning to the moon. And this time, to stay.”
NASA plans to establish a permanent lunar colony by 2032, as the agency aims to increase the number of commercial lunar missions in the next three years to discover possible landing areas and test new technologies.
Describing lunar conditions hostile to permanent human presence, the 43-year-old who serves as NASA’s 15th chief 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, called Endurance.
Despite meticulous planning, the recent Blue Origin rocket explosion has raised concerns that it could delay upcoming lunar missions.
NASA aims to have a significant number of MoonFall helicopter drones and unmanned rovers on the lunar surface by 2029 to continuously search for water and other resources.
