Jakarta, INTI - The United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) plans to carry out three lunar missions before the end of 2026 as part of its long-term project to establish a permanent base on the Moon.
The program follows the successful Artemis II mission conducted in April 2026 and forms part of NASA’s broader strategy to expand human activity on the lunar surface.
Three Lunar Base Missions Scheduled in Stages
NASA stated that the first mission, titled Moon Base I, is scheduled for launch as early as fall 2026 using Blue Origin’s Blue Moon Mark 1 Endurance lunar lander.
The mission will carry the Lunar Surface-Plume Study instrument along with cameras to analyze lunar surface conditions in preparation for future landings.
The second mission, Moon Base II, will utilize Astrobiotic’s Griffin lander to deploy the FLIP rover developed by Astrolab.
The rover is expected to support the development of next-generation lunar terrain vehicles designed for future human exploration missions.
Meanwhile, the third mission, Moon Base III, will use Intuitive Machines’ Nova-C Trinity lander to study lunar swirls and deliver payloads from the European Space Agency and the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute.
NASA Partners With Private Space Companies
NASA also announced several partnership contracts with space companies to support the lunar exploration initiative.
Astrolab and Lunar Outpost each received contracts worth US$219 million and US$220 million respectively to develop Lunar Terrain Vehicles (LTVs).
Blue Origin secured a US$118 million contract to deliver rovers to the Moon while also developing lunar landers for upcoming missions.
NASA said testing for Blue Origin’s lunar lander has been completed, while second-generation prototypes for crew training were delivered in May 2026.
Human Return to the Moon Targeted for 2028
The latest missions are part of NASA’s updated timeline announced in February 2026 after the agency postponed its crewed lunar landing mission until 2028.
Before sending astronauts back to the Moon, NASA also plans to deploy drones under the MoonFall program to map future astronaut landing sites.
Conclusion
NASA’s upcoming lunar missions mark a major step toward establishing a permanent human presence on the Moon. Through collaborations with private space companies, advanced lunar vehicles, and future crewed exploration plans, the agency is accelerating the development of long-term space infrastructure and preparing for the next era of human exploration beyond Earth.
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