NASA chief Jared Isaacman has laid out a structured three-phase plan for building a moon base, saying robotic systems are expected to arrive first in 2028 to prepare the surface before astronauts return. The agency’s longer-term goal is to begin constructing permanent living facilities in the 2030s, rather than rushing into a full-scale habitat from the start.
Robots arrive first to prepare the lunar surface
The timeline described in the Bloomberg Tech interview stretches from 2026 into the 2030s. Isaacman said the logic is simple: infrastructure should already be in place before people step onto the moon. NASA has awarded a key contract to Firefly Aerospace, which is set to build the spacecraft for an uncrewed lunar mission targeted for 2028. Those robotic systems are meant to begin setting up the environment ahead of human arrival.
Isaacman also pushed back on the idea that NASA is aiming straight for a futuristic glass-dome settlement. That is not the current objective. The agency is taking a staged approach focused on practical systems first, then larger permanent structures later.
Three stages from initial systems to long-term habitation
Under the plan, the first phase covers 2026 to 2029 and centers on deploying initial infrastructure. The second phase runs from 2029 into the early 2030s and is designed to establish permanent infrastructure, including a power grid to support sustained human presence. The third phase, set for the 2030s, would involve building dedicated permanent habitats for astronauts living on the lunar surface over longer periods.
That approach shifts the burden of early construction away from the astronauts themselves. Instead of landing on an empty surface and starting from scratch, crews would arrive to a site where core systems are already waiting.
Moon base schedule tied to the Artemis program
The moon base effort is being developed within NASA’s broader Artemis program. According to the report, Artemis II completed a crewed lunar flyby on April 2 this year, marking humanity’s return to lunar missions after half a century.
NASA is currently targeting mid-2027 for Artemis III, with the first crewed moon landing possible as early as 2028. The mission is expected to place two astronauts on the lunar surface. Phase one of the moon base roadmap is intended to make sure conditions on site are as ready as possible by the time those astronauts arrive. NASA has also awarded lunar surface system contracts to multiple commercial partners as it works toward a sustainable human presence on the moon, with Mars remaining the longer-range destination.