When Will Construction Begin on the Moon’s First Permanent Shelter?*
When Will Construction Begin on the Moon’s First Permanent Shelter? 2025 Edition — An annual reality check on humanity’s most ambitious construction project The Question, Defined Colonizing the Moon = beginning construction of a shelter intended as a permanent residence for a group of humans. Not a visit. Not a research station. We’re tracking the moment someone breaks ground on infrastructure designed to keep humans alive indefinitely. That means foundations, life support, and expansion capability. When does this actually happen? The answer matters more than you think—because whoever builds first controls the strategic high ground for the rest of the century. Current State: Two Horses, One Race NASA’s Artemis Base Camp Target: 2034-2036 for Foundation Surface Habitat construction near the lunar south pole Reality check: Artemis III (first crewed landing) has slipped from 2024 → 2026 → now 2027 or later Critical dependency: SpaceX’s Starship Human ...