{
  "id": 13923569,
  "title": "Mars may be a hellhole, but the moon is not far behind",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/12/mars-may-be-a-hellhole-but-the-moon-is-not-far-behind",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-10-12T09:37:02.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "MIT Technology Review",
    "slug": "mit-technology-review",
    "url": "https://www.technologyreview.com/2026/10/12/1145760/imagining-building-cities-on-the-moon/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "As the second space race unfolds, America and China are competing with other nations and private companies to establish lunar bases. NASA's Administrator Jared Isaacman has been making bold announcements, estimating the project to cost tens of billions of dollars. The ambitious plan includes drones, robotic landers, communication satellites, nuclear power plants, terrariums, moonquake sensors, and mechanized scouts exploring craters for water. The first astronaut missions to the lunar surface are planned for 2028, with long-term habitation quarters expected in the 2030s. The goal is to create a sprawling network of scientific research stations, resource mining and processing plants, and spaceship landing pads. Nationalistic competition drives the effort, as China aims to build its own base on the moon. The lunar surface offers primeval rocks holding clues to the solar system's formation and an ideal location for telescopes to study the ancient cosmos. The far side of the moon is particularly valuable for exploring the universe beyond. To ensure the safety and self-sustainability of the lunar base, researchers must find ways to use the moon's resources for operation and revenue generation, including robots that can build, maintain, and expand the base without human presence. Decades from now, these initial moon bases could potentially grow into luminous cities, resembling science fiction dreams. NASA aims to build a base at the lunar south pole, as its permanently shadowed craters might contain water ice—a more valuable resource than gold. However, the harsh conditions on the moon, such as extreme temperatures, radiation, and corrosive lunar dust, pose significant challenges. While materials science can help resist temperature swings, the long-term viability of survival technology remains uncertain.",
  "summary": "Welcome to the second space race. You can be forgiven for experiencing déjà vu. Last time, it was the Soviet Union and the United States vying to be the first to plant some flags. Now it’s a sprint to the lunar surface between America and China—alongside a host of varyingly friendly and rival nations—plus a…",
  "key_points": [
    "NASA aims to establish lunar bases, costing tens of billions of dollars",
    "First astronaut missions to moon planned for 2028, habitation in 2030s",
    "Moon s resources, like water ice, crucial for sustainable base operations"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}