Chapter 1
The treasure hunt at the lunar south pole
Chapter 2
Artemis II and the American return
Chapter 3
China's robotic pioneer: Chang'e 7
Chapter 4
The global team-up: LUPEX
Chapter 5
The private sector and the future of lunar bases
YOUR GOAL
Master of The race for lunar water
Ch 5 · The private sector and the future of lunar bases
artiteacher Private Lunar Ice Hunt
Moon ice hunt, yeah! Private ships take flight, for water ice so bright!
artiteacher Giant reusable rockets like SpaceX's Starship are designed to drastically lower the cost of transporting heavy equipment to the Moon.
artiteacher Space leaders are outlining plans for privately funded and international lunar habitats to support long-term human stays.
BETA
artiteacher Race your rover into dark craters to discover where water ice hides on the Moon.
Fun Fact
Cosmic gas station: Experts estimate that harvesting water ice from the Moon to make rocket fuel could save space agencies billions of dollars compared to launching fuel from Earth.
Glossary
lander (noun)
A spacecraft designed to land on the surface of a planet or other celestial body. In late 2026, Blue Origin's Endurance vehicle will execute the first privately funded lunar landing mission.
A spacecraft designed to land on the surface of a planet or other celestial body. In late 2026, Blue Origin's Endurance vehicle will execute the first privately funded lunar landing mission.
Quiz
What modern, US-led international agreement allows partners to extract and use lunar resources?
Quiz
What NASA program contracts private companies to deliver robotic payloads to the Moon?
Quiz
What is the primary international treaty signed in 1967 that governs activities in outer space?
Quiz
What is the name of the planned commercial lunar lander mission outlined by NASA in mid-2026?
Quiz
Which private aerospace company built the Odysseus lander that made history by landing near the south pole?
Quiz
Which energy source is planned to power lunar bases during the long, dark polar nights?
Quiz
What massive, fully reusable spacecraft is SpaceX developing to carry heavy cargo to the Moon?