The era of lunar exploration is entering a new, most ambitious phase. NASA has officially begun preparations to create large-scale infrastructure on the Moon's South Pole. This is not just a one-time landing, but the beginning of systematic work that will turn Earth's satellite into a springboard for flights to Mars.
Technical leap: drones, rovers, and modules
The agency has already signed contracts worth hundreds of millions of dollars with leading private space companies. Blue Origin will play a key role in logistics by providing two landing modules. These will deliver advanced lunar rovers developed by Astrolab and Lunar Outpost to the satellite's surface.
Special attention is being paid to aerial reconnaissance. The first unmanned vehicles on the Moon will be drones from Firefly Aerospace. This choice is not accidental: the company has already proven its reliability by successfully landing on the Moon last year. Using drones will allow for detailed study of hard-to-reach regions and preparation of safe routes for future expeditions.
Roadmap for return
The implementation schedule for the Artemis program is ambitious but realistic:
- 2027: Start of key technology testing. The crew will dock the Orion spacecraft with landing modules in Earth orbit to eliminate risks during the actual flight.
- 2028: Expected date of the first astronaut landing on the Moon's surface as part of the Artemis III mission.
- 2030s: Active development of infrastructure and creation of a full-fledged base.
As NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman stated, humanity's grand return to the Moon is already close, and the pace of work will not slow down. This project will become the foundation for long-term human presence in space.
