Space

NASA races to have the first moon base and nuclear-propulsion spacecraft

The ambitious and expensive plan ignites hope but caution after deep government cost-cutting

A moonscape is shown littered with the components of a moon base.

By the mid-2030s, NASA’s proposed moon base (illustrated) will be capable of sustaining humans for long durations.

NASA

By Nikk Ogasa and Lisa Grossman

NASA is hitting the accelerator on space missions and moon trips in the hopes of achieving some big firsts — a permanent moon base and an interplanetary spacecraft harnessing nuclear propulsion.