NASA to pull an IKEA by dropping tons of plastic, metal, and glass on the Moon
NASA is pushing beyond a quick Apollo-style return. By 2029, the Moon Base plan envisions up to 25 missions, including 21 landings, delivering roughly four metric tons of cargo and the first crewed and autonomous lunar rovers. Four companies—Blue Origin, Astrolab, Lunar Outpost, and Firefly Aerospace—won contracts to build cargo landers, lunar terrain vehicles, and a carrier for NASA’s MoonFall drones. The goal: establish a permanent American presence and a lunar economy funded by corporations rather than public funds. The lunar drones will map the surface at centimetre detail, hunt for water ice, and evaluate radiation long term, guiding future crewed missions. NASA’s roadmap explains phased milestones through 2032, with Phase 2 adding longer stays and infrastructure, and Phase 3 targeting sustained habitation. As Artemis II tests systems, the agency remains confident in a fast-tracked path to a lasting lunar outpost and broader collaboration.
