# NASA to Brief Media on Moon Base Plans, Artemis Milestones on May 26 **Source:** https://glitchwire.com/news/nasa-to-brief-media-on-moon-base-plans-artemis-milestones-on-may-26/ **Published:** 2026-05-21T14:54:43.006Z **Author:** Science Desk · Glitchwire **Categories:** Science, Tech ## Summary The space agency will discuss new industry partners and mission updates as it advances its $20 billion effort to establish a sustained human presence at the lunar south pole. ## Article NASA has scheduled a news conference for 2 p.m. EDT on Tuesday, May 26, at the agency's headquarters in Washington. The briefing will detail progress on the Moon Base initiative, the agency's long-term plan to build infrastructure on the lunar surface and maintain a sustained human presence near the south pole. Participants include [NASA](https://www.nasa.gov/) Administrator Jared Isaacman, Lori Glaze, acting associate administrator for the Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate, and Carlos García-Galán, the program executive for Moon Base. The broadcast will air live on NASA+ and the agency's YouTube channel. ## A Reshaped Architecture The briefing arrives roughly two months after NASA overhauled the Artemis program in fundamental ways. In late February, Isaacman announced the agency would add a new mission, Artemis III, to test human landing systems in Earth orbit in 2027. That mission will precede Artemis IV, now designated as the program's first crewed lunar landing since Apollo 17. NASA is targeting early 2028 for that flight. At its Ignition event in March, the agency went further. Isaacman confirmed that the [Lunar Gateway](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lunar_Gateway), a planned space station in lunar orbit under development since 2017, would be paused indefinitely. In its place, NASA is redirecting resources toward surface infrastructure. The agency says it expects to spend approximately $20 billion over the next seven years to construct the initial elements of a permanent lunar base. The shift represents a departure from prior Artemis planning, which envisioned Gateway as a crew transfer point between Orion spacecraft and lunar landers. Without it, astronauts will transfer directly to commercially built landers from SpaceX or Blue Origin in orbit around the Moon. ## Three Phases Toward Permanence NASA has outlined the Moon Base effort in three phases. The first, running from 2026 to 2028, focuses on establishing reliable access to the lunar surface. The agency intends to use Commercial Lunar Payload Services to deliver hardware, including simplified rovers and propulsive hoppers inspired by Ingenuity, the small helicopter that operated on Mars. The second phase will expand capabilities, supporting longer crew stays. Early pressurized modules may accommodate missions lasting up to 28 days. Power generation remains a critical challenge. NASA is developing compact nuclear reactors capable of producing at least 10 kilowatts. These would allow operations to continue through the lunar night, when solar panels are useless for weeks at a time. The third phase aims to deliver heavier infrastructure using cargo-capable human landing systems. International contributions remain part of the plan. The Italian Space Agency's Multi-purpose Habitats and the Canadian Space Agency's Lunar Utility Vehicle are both mentioned in NASA planning documents. ## What to Expect at the Briefing NASA says leadership will discuss program progress and new industry partners. The agency has signaled its intent to work with at least two launch providers for crewed landings, targeting a cadence of one landing every six months in later years. Subject matter experts will be available for interviews after the briefing. The timing is deliberate. With Artemis II, a crewed flyby that splashed down in April, now behind it, NASA is turning attention to the next milestones. The agency frames the effort as part of a competition with China, which is pursuing its own crewed lunar landing by 2030. Details on [federal technology investments](/news/us-government-plans-2-billion-in-quantum-computing-grants-takes-equity-stakes-in/) and [large-scale infrastructure projects](/news/floating-ai-data-centers-are-no-longer-sci-fi-the-race-to-put-supercomputers-at/) often reflect this urgency. Media can attend the briefing in person or by phone. RSVPs are due to NASA's headquarters newsroom by 11 a.m. on May 26. --- **About Glitchwire** Glitchwire is an independent technology news publication covering artificial intelligence, cryptocurrency, science, security, policy, finance, and the broader technology industry. 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