NASA Plans Permanent Moon Base with Nuclear Rover Launching in 2028

NASA is preparing to send humans back to the moon and establish a permanent human presence within the next decade. The agency plans to have rovers and other infrastructure waiting on the lunar surface before human crews arrive.

A key part of this effort is the PROMISE rover, modeled after the Mars rovers Perseverance and Curiosity. PROMISE stands for Polar Rover for Observation, Mapping, and In-Situ Exploration and will launch to the moon in late 2028 for an 18-month primary mission.

“We are building the Lunar Base mission by mission.”

The nuclear-powered rover will be equipped with a drill, cameras, and scientific instruments to characterize terrain and subsurface conditions, assess resources, and support future base operations. It will be able to operate continuously during long lunar nights and in permanently shadowed regions where ice may exist.

NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory will manage the mission and build the rover, using spare parts and test models from Curiosity and Perseverance to reduce costs and speed delivery. Blue Origin will transport PROMISE to the moon using its Mark 1 lander under a base contract worth 94 million dollars, with up to 140 million dollars more possible based on performance.

The broader lunar base project is estimated at 20 billion dollars and includes a contract of up to 10 billion dollars for private company deliveries to the lunar surface. Six service orders worth about 1.3 billion dollars will cover equipment launch and orbital transport for the base.

NASA chief Jared Isaacman said the missions will help characterize an environment humans have not visited in a very long time. He added that every piece of equipment operated on the moon brings enduring presence closer to reality.