WELL, THIS IS THE 21st CENTURY, YOU KNOW: Coming Soon: Humanity’s First Outpost in Deep Space.
What once seemed like science fiction is now within reach, as NASA looks to establish an enduring human presence on the Moon in the next decade.
NASA’s Moon Base is on track to become the first permanent human settlement in the solar system by the early 2030s.
“This will be humanity’s first outpost in deep space,” Carlos García-Galán, program executive of Moon Base, told National Review. “It is a huge step forward in our capabilities to live and work and basically be able to push the boundaries in space.”
Located 238,855 miles from Earth, Moon Base will serve as a center for scientific research and technological development. The mission’s initial all-robot crew could launch as soon as fall 2026.
García-Galán sees the base as a critical step toward developing the technology required for missions to other planets, notably to Mars.
“I’ve helped build the Space Station. I’ve helped design the Orion spacecraft,” he said. “But this will take us to the next level.”
NASA’s plans for Moon Base were first announced on March 24, presented as an effort to establish the country’s leadership in space and pursue President Trump’s National Space Policy. In his December 18, 2025 executive order, the president said that taking the lead in space exploration was a vital symbol of “national vision and willpower” and a way to better promote America’s security and longevity. A lunar outpost was the top objective listed in the order.
The Moon Base mission focuses specifically on the South Pole of the moon because it is best for NASA’s specific scientific objectives. Beyond simply illustrating American achievement, these goals include testing advanced space exploration technologies, working with unique natural resources, establishing a center for scientific research, creating a permanent location for human settlement, and preparing to send a crew to Mars.
This is much more like the 21st century I was promised as a kid. Speaking of which, whatever you do, don’t put Martin Landau in charge of the base, if you want to keep it around: