NASA Adds New Science Investigations for Moon Base
NASA says it has selected three new scientific investigations and their payload suites to improve knowledge of the Moon and support plans for humanity’s first lunar outpost, called Moon Base. The agency’s release was updated Sept. 30, 2026, to correct the name of the DISCO payload.
NASA selected three new scientific investigations and their payload suites, according to an agency news release. NASA said the work is intended to advance knowledge of the Moon and help support the development of humanity’s first lunar outpost, referred to as Moon Base.
The investigations involve suites of science instruments and technologies. The supplied NASA excerpt does not identify the individual investigations, describe their instruments, or state where or when the payloads will operate.
NASA’s release was updated on Sept. 30, 2026, to correct the name of the DISCO payload. The excerpt does not provide further details about the correction or explain how the payload suites will be deployed.
The available information does not specify the investigations’ objectives, schedules, funding, launch arrangements, or confirmed next steps beyond NASA’s selection of the three investigations and payload suites.
THE QUESTIONS THIS EVENT LEAVES BEHIND
What criteria did NASA use to select the three investigations?
How will the investigations affect decisions about establishing a lunar outpost?
What conditions must be met before the payload suites can operate on the Moon?
Who will oversee the investigations and control access to their results?
What could be delayed or changed if the investigations do not produce the expected data?
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GLOBAL CURIOSITY MAP · AUGUST 2026