GoKawiilNASA and China pursue plans for permanent lunar bases by century's end
NASA is aiming to establish a small, self-sustaining city on the moon by the end of the century, as both the US and China pursue lunar base programs. Such a base would need to withstand asteroid impacts, constant radiation, abrasive dust and extreme temperature swings while relying on autonomous robots, nuclear power and local resource use to stay operational.
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The scale of engineering required suggests lunar settlement remains as much a political challenge as a technical one, since sustained funding and international cooperation could prove harder to secure than the hardware itself. Competition between the US and China could accelerate timelines, but it may also fragment efforts rather than consolidate them into shared infrastructure.
- NASA envisions a small lunar city by the end of the century.
- Both the US and China are developing competing plans for moon bases.
- Key challenges include radiation, dust, temperature extremes, and sustaining power and resources autonomously.
Source: technologyreview.com — Thomas Macaulay, 2026-10-28
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