It’s pretty well known that the Artemis II rocket will launch today as of writing, on Wednesday, April 1st, 2026, yet this isn’t the only big NASA announcement.
On March 24th, NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman announced out of nowhere that NASA was scrapping their plan to build a Space Station orbiting the moon and replacing it with a literal Moon Base plan. And yes, it’s the same Moon Base like the ones in Sci-Fi movies where astronauts live on the moon. This is not a joke; NASA has gone full Cold War ambitions.
The Plan to build the moon base is split into three phases. Phase 1 will involve NASA frequently launching rovers and technical equipment to survey the area and test whether certain power sources and technologies work on the moon. Phase 2 will have astronauts on the moon, with “Semi-Habitable infrastructure and regular logistics.” They also announced in this phase that they will work with International Space Agencies, including Japan’s JAXA, on their pressurized rover, which is a manned rover that humans can survive in. Phase 3 will deliver the infrastructure needed to build the moon base properly, including Multi-Purpose Habitats and Lunar Utility Vehicles. They also plan to use nuclear power at this moon base.
Overall, this is some crazy Sci-Fi stuff, but it’s real. So don’t forget in the future: If you can’t afford a home, just live on the moon.
