The Moon is no longer just a symbol of past glory — it’s becoming the centrepiece of a new global power race.
And Nasa wants to make sure the US gets there first.
The space agency has unveiled ambitious plans for robotic landers, hopping drones, lunar vehicles and even semi-permanent housing as part of its push to build a Moon base by 2032.
Among the companies tapped for the project is Blue Origin, founded by Jeff Bezos.
So why the urgency?
Because China is moving fast. Just days ago, Beijing launched its Shenzhou-23 mission to the Tiangong space station.
While also aiming to land astronauts on the Moon by 2030.
Moon Base Race Intensifies
Nasa says its “Ignition Moon Base” programme will begin with robotic missions exploring the Moon’s south pole.
A region believed to contain frozen water that could someday support human life.
“It would not surprise me at all if China gets there first,” lunar scientist Simeon Barber told the BBC, pointing to delays with landing technology.
That’s the biggest hurdle. While Nasa has contracts with SpaceX for its Starship lunar lander, the project has faced repeated setbacks.
Still, the vision is enormous: nuclear-powered habitats, long-range rovers, and astronauts living on the Moon for extended periods.
The question now isn’t whether humans will return to the Moon — it’s who plants the next lasting footprint first.
