US lawmakers push for a permanent Moon base to secure long-term lunar presence
A bipartisan push in Congress via the NASA Authorization Act of 2026 would establish a permanent Lunar Surface Moon Base to sustain a US presence on the Moon with long‑duration habitation and robotics/industrial capabilities for science, technology demonstrations, and future Mars missions. The bill seeks an enduring lunar presence, tasks NASA with evaluating crew rescue options, and is framed within the broader space‑race context with China, aligned with Artemis and recent US space policy.