Washington, D.C.
NASA this week announced plans to build a permanent base on the moon by 2024—raising the prospect of a manned space flight to Mars. The ambitious proposals mark a radical departure from previous short trips to the moon. The base would be permanently staffed by 2024, and once complete, astronauts from the U.S. and other nations would spend up to six months at a time there. NASA said it wants the base to prepare for a manned mission to Mars, and ultimately, exploration of other planets. “The lunar base will be a central theme in our plan for going to the moon in preparation to go to Mars and beyond,” said NASA’s Scott Horowitz. “It’s a very, very big decision.”
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
5 evergreen cartoons about Trump annexing GreenlandCartoons Artists take on changing priorities, taking a putt, and more
-
The New Jersey 'UFO' drone scareIn the Spotlight Reports of mysterious low-flying aircraft provoked outlandish theories, but old-fashioned hysteria appears to have been to blame
-
Elon Musk's support for AfD makes waves in GermanyTalking Point The tech billionaire has faced a vocal backlash after backing far-right movement shunned by mainstream parties
