Draft:Artemis Base Camp
A page about the planned lunar outpost named Artemis Base Camp.
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Artemis Base Camp is a planned permanent lunar outpost under development by NASA as the central element of sustained human presence in the Artemis program.[1] It is designed to support crews of up to four astronauts for extended stays, conduct scientific research, demonstrate in-situ resource utilization (ISRU), and test technologies for future crewed missions to Mars.[2] Located at the lunar south pole, the base will be assembled incrementally through multiple crewed and uncrewed missions with participation from commercial and international partners.
Submission declined on 27 March 2026 by Moritoriko (talk).
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| Submission declined on 27 March 2026 by 45dogs (talk). This draft does not include any sources or inline citations. Wikipedia's verifiability policy requires that all content be supported by reliable sources. You should also use inline citations (footnotes) to show which source supports which specific statement.
Declined by 45dogs 93 minutes ago.The draft requires multiple published secondary sources that:
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Comment: Notability requires secondary sources, that is sources that aren't NASA, talking about the base camp. Moritoriko (talk) 05:49, 27 March 2026 (UTC)
Location
The base camp is targeted for the Moon's south polar region, near sites such as Shackleton Crater or other high-elevation areas like the Connecting Ridge. This location offers access to water ice in permanently shadowed regions for ISRU, near-continuous sunlight on elevated ridges for solar power, and relatively moderate temperature swings compared to equatorial sites.[3]
Components
The base is envisioned as a modular, expandable complex. Key elements include:
- Foundation Surface Habitat: The primary pressurized living and working quarters, designed to house up to four astronauts for stays of one to two months. Concepts often include regolith burial or shielding for radiation and micrometeoroid protection.[4]
- Mobility Systems:
- Lunar Terrain Vehicle (LTV): An unpressurized rover for short-range transport and excursions.
- Pressurized Rover: A habitable mobility platform allowing crews to live and explore for days or weeks away from the main habitat.[4]
- Power Systems: Initial solar arrays leveraging near-constant sunlight at the south pole, with longer-term plans for small nuclear fission reactors to provide continuous power.
- Supporting Infrastructure: Cargo landers, ISRU systems to extract water, oxygen, and propellant from lunar regolith, robotic construction equipment, and scientific instruments.
Purpose and Scientific Role
The primary goals are to demonstrate technologies for long-duration human presence on the Moon, advance lunar science (including geology, resource mapping, and astronomy), test Mars-forward systems, and enable international and commercial activities. The base will support frequent crew rotations and exploration of the south pole's unique environment.
Development and Timeline
Conceptual studies for Artemis Base Camp date back to the early 2020s.[4] Following NASA's March 2026 "Ignition" announcement, the program has placed increased emphasis on lunar surface infrastructure through a phased approach. Artemis II (crewed lunar flyby) is scheduled for 2026, with surface operations building toward sustained presence in the early 2030s. The project continues to involve international partners and commercial providers.[5]
See also
External links
- Lunar Living: NASA's Artemis Base Camp Concept – Official NASA overview of the base camp concept (2020)
- NASA’s Artemis Base Camp on the Moon Will Need Light, Water, Elevation – NASA page on site selection and environmental advantages
- NASA Artemis Program main page – Current information on the overall Artemis program
- NASA Ignition page – Official hub for the March 2026 Ignition announcements and lunar surface focus
- NASA Unveils Initiatives to Achieve America's National Space Policy – March 2026 announcement detailing the shift toward sustained surface operations
- NASA's Lunar Exploration Program Overview (Artemis Plan PDF) – Detailed 2020 planning document covering Artemis Base Camp elements
- Artemis Launch Calendar – Launch calendar from Artemis Base Camp media
- NASA unveils $20 billion moon base plans – USA Today coverage of the March 2026 plans
- NASA outlines Moon Base plans, pivots on Gateway – Detailed independent reporting from NASASpaceflight.com on the Ignition announcement
- NASA details plan to establish lunar surface base by 2030 – Aerospace America article on the phased lunar base approach
- NASA unveils ambitious $20 billion moon base strategy – ABC News reporting on the Ignition event
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