For the first time, legislation has passed unanimously giving the go-ahead for NASA to establish a permanent lunar base as part of a push for a sustained US presence on the lunar surface.
Although it is not a done deal – both the US Senate and the House must agree on the language – the impetus for establishing a “Lunar Surface Moon Base” is that America is in a space race with China.
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Enduring Moon’s presence
In its final form, the lunar base will be designed, constructed and operated to enable meaningful and robust scientific research and technology demonstrations on the lunar surface.
To that end, the law requires the United States to maintain a “permanent lunar presence.” Furthermore, to the greatest practical extent possible, capabilities honed at the base must be scalable to Mars missions and adapted to evolving national exploration and science needs.
Ted Cruz, (R-Texas), chairman of the committee, released a one-pager focusing on the NASA Authorization Act of 2026, titled “Ensure American dominance in the new space race.”
“The United States is in an intensified strategic space race with the People’s Republic of China, spanning Earth’s orbit, the Moon and the wider space,” Cruz said. “Beijing is rapidly advancing its lunar ambitions, expanding its orbital capabilities, building supporting infrastructure beyond Earth, and promoting alternative governance frameworks such as the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS) – all with a clear goal.”
China’s goal, Cruz added, is to dominate the moon, control strategic terrain in space and write the rules for the 21st century.
Way forward
The sweeping bipartisan bill sets the stage for decades of continued American leadership in space, observes Senator Maria Cantwell, the committee’s ranking member.
“For the first time, it authorizes NASA to establish a permanent lunar base as part of a sustained US presence on the lunar surface,” Cantwell said.
The authorization act also requires NASA to evaluate existing and potential lunar crew rescue capabilities in emergency and non-emergency scenarios.
“This legislation supports a path forward for our safe return to the Moon that will get us there as soon as possible. And for the first time, our bill establishes a program to develop a permanent lunar base and reinforces existing efforts related to lunar surface power and lunar exploration vehicles,” Cantwell said.
Executive order
The call for a US moon base was previously announced by US President Donald Trump’s “Assuring American space superiority” executive orders back on December 18, 2025.
President Trump said his administration would focus its space policy on achieving a number of priorities, including:
- “To return Americans to the Moon by 2028 through the Artemis program, to assert American leadership in space, lay the foundation for lunar economic development, prepare for the journey to Mars, and inspire the next generation of American explorers.”
- “Establish initial elements of a permanent lunar outpost by 2030 to ensure a sustained US presence in space and enable the next steps in Mars exploration”
- “Enable near-term exploitation of space nuclear power by deploying nuclear reactors on the Moon and in orbit, including a lunar surface reactor ready for launch by 2030”
Strategic high ground
As for why all this matters, Lawmaker Cruz says “the nation that leads in space will shape the global economy, define international norms and secure the ultimate strategic height. China understands this and is moving quickly to claim it.”
The NASA Authorization Act of 2026, Cruz said, “ensures that America – not China – leads the next era of exploration. It strengthens America’s presence from low-Earth orbit to deep space, protects sensitive technologies from adversaries, restores accountability and positions America to lead from the Moon to Mars.”
Cruz emphasizes that the room is not symbolic; it is strategic.
“Leadership in space underpins national security, economic strength, technological innovation and global influence. If America hesitates, China will fill the void,” Cruz concluded.
