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NASA is showcasing a wide range of technologies needed to establish a lunar base near the south pole, from power, communications, and robotics to resource extraction and resistance to dust and extreme thermal conditions. The developments demonstrate how autonomous systems and the local use of lunar resources could reduce reliance on supplies transported from Earth.
Space nuclear power and propulsion programs are receiving growing government and commercial support in the United States, but shortages of HALEU fuel, supply chains, personnel, and test sites could slow their implementation. Experts warn that sustaining the programs beyond 2029 will require institutional commitments and multiyear funding, not merely support tied to the current administration.