NASA shared new plans for building up a Moon Base, and the ideas include Moon buggies and even “flying” drones. A Moon Base would be like a super-tough campsite for astronauts, designed for longer visits and more exploring.
Living and working on the Moon is tricky because there’s no air to breathe, temperatures can change a lot, and the ground is covered in dusty dirt called regolith. Because of that, NASA is thinking about smart machines that can deliver supplies and set things up before people spend more time there.
The plan includes cargo landers (like delivery trucks that land on the Moon) and rovers that drive around carrying tools. One mission idea is called “Moon Base I,” and it’s planned for no earlier than fall 2026 to deliver equipment and test how future Moon exploration could work.
The drone idea is especially interesting: drones on Earth fly by pushing air with propellers, but the Moon doesn’t have air. So any Moon “drone” would need a different approach—more like a rocket-powered hopper that can lift off and land in small jumps. It’s a good example of how engineers redesign technology to fit a new environment.
Living and working on the Moon is tricky because there’s no air to breathe, temperatures can change a lot, and the ground is covered in dusty dirt called regolith. Because of that, NASA is thinking about smart machines that can deliver supplies and set things up before people spend more time there.
The plan includes cargo landers (like delivery trucks that land on the Moon) and rovers that drive around carrying tools. One mission idea is called “Moon Base I,” and it’s planned for no earlier than fall 2026 to deliver equipment and test how future Moon exploration could work.
The drone idea is especially interesting: drones on Earth fly by pushing air with propellers, but the Moon doesn’t have air. So any Moon “drone” would need a different approach—more like a rocket-powered hopper that can lift off and land in small jumps. It’s a good example of how engineers redesign technology to fit a new environment.