NASA has laid out its plans for a moon base, awarding contracts worth hundreds of millions of dollars to four US companies, including Blue Origin and Firefly Aerospace. This initiative comes shortly after the Artemis II mission, which saw astronauts fly around the moon. Blue Origin will supply landers to deliver lunar terrain vehicles, while Firefly Aerospace will send drones to the lunar surface. The first Artemis astronauts are set to land on the moon as early as 2028, following the Artemis III mission scheduled for mid-2027. NASA's moon base will be developed in phases, with the second phase beginning in 2029 to establish essential infrastructure, including a power grid. NASA's moon base program executive, Carlos Garcia-Galan, envisions a vast base covering hundreds of square miles, with drones marking its perimeter. The overarching goal is to foster a lunar economy and conduct scientific research, laying the groundwork for future Mars expeditions.