NASA aims to establish a permanent human settlement on the Moon within the next decade. This settlement, far from being a temporary base, is designed as a nuclear-powered “village” that will support sustainable living and will be a critical step for the journey to Mars.

NASA Prepares to Build a Village on the Moon

NASA Administrator Sean Duffy announced this ambitious goal from the US at the International Aeronautical Congress in Sydney. Duffy emphasized that the village will pave the way for long-term Mars missions.

In line with this plan, NASA recently began soliciting bids from private companies for a nuclear reactor to be used on the Moon. This reactor is intended to provide a reliable energy source for human missions.

However, this settlement cannot be declared US territory due to international law. The 1967 Outer Space Treaty, signed by more than 110 countries, including the US, forms the basis of space law.

This treaty prohibits any country from claiming ownership of the Moon or any other celestial body, in other words, declaring sovereignty. Therefore, a village built on the Moon must be legally defined as a “research and habitat open to international cooperation.”

Due to this legal framework, this NASA-led mission will likely be carried out in cooperation with an international organization. NASA is currently conducting the Artemis program to return to the Moon.

The Artemis II mission, expected in early 2026, has been identified as one of the first concrete steps toward establishing a village on the Moon. What are your thoughts on this? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below.