🚀 The Inhabited Moon: After Artemis 2, a Permanent Lunar Base

The recent success of the Artemis 2 mission demonstrated the reliability of the Orion capsule for crewed circumlunar flights. This achievement paves the way for more ambitious steps, where each mission serves as a springboard for the next.

Originally planned for a lunar landing, Artemis 3 will now be dedicated to tests in Earth orbit. This mission will test Orion's ability to dock with landing vehicles developed by private partners, such as SpaceX's Starship and Blue Origin's Blue Moon.


In the case of positive results during these tests in 2027, Artemis 4 could authorize an astronaut landing near the lunar south pole as early as 2028. This region is particularly interesting due to the suspected presence of water ice, an indispensable resource for extended stays.

Several technical challenges remain to be overcome, notably the maturation of private landers which have not yet been proven in space. Minor problems detected, such as a helium leak on Orion during Artemis 2, also require adjustments to enhance the safety of future missions.

The plan includes notably the establishment of a permanent lunar base around 2032. This outpost would enable extended-duration crewed missions, serving as a training ground for more distant journeys, such as to Mars.

Private Lunar Landing Vehicles

As part of the Artemis program, NASA is relying on companies like SpaceX and Blue Origin to develop systems for landing and taking off again with humans on board. These vehicles, such as Starship and Blue Moon, must transport astronauts from lunar orbit to the surface and back, a task requiring reliable propulsion and life support technologies.

The development of these landers involves rigorous testing, as none have yet completed a crewed mission. SpaceX has performed several suborbital test flights for Starship, but key steps like in-orbit refueling remain to be validated. Blue Moon, for its part, has not yet flown, which highlights the importance of upcoming demonstrations.

These public-private collaborations aim to reduce costs and accelerate innovation. By outsourcing part of the development, NASA can focus on other aspects, such as the Orion capsule and the lunar base, while fostering competition that could benefit the entire space sector.

The Interest of a Permanent Lunar Base

A permanent base on the Moon represents a major step for space exploration, beyond simple one-off missions. It would allow astronauts to live and work on site for months, facilitating in-depth scientific research on the lunar environment, such as geology or the effects of low gravity.

The lunar south pole is a favored area for such an installation, due to its shadowed craters where water ice might be present. This resource is vital, as it could be transformed into drinking water, oxygen for breathing, or rocket fuel, thereby reducing dependence on supplies from Earth.

A lunar base would also serve as a stepping stone for missions to Mars. By testing life support technologies, food cultivation, or radiation protection in a nearby extraterrestrial environment, space agencies could acquire the necessary expertise for longer interplanetary voyages.