Lunar Settlements

Multiple nations and companies plan to build permanent lunar bases within the next two decades. NASA's Artemis program aims for a long-term presence at the Moon's south pole, where permanently shadowed craters hold water ice. That ice can be split into hydrogen and oxygen, giving settlers both rocket fuel and breathable air.

China and Russia are jointly developing the International Lunar Research Station. ESA has proposed a "Moon Village" concept where multiple nations collaborate on a permanent settlement.