Rep. Pat Harrigan on Tuesday voiced support for NASA’s plan to build a permanent lunar base, arguing that a sustained presence on the Moon is critical to U.S. leadership in space.
“We should be all in on @NASAMoonBase,” Harrigan wrote in a post on X. “A permanent lunar base means America controls the high ground in space, develops technologies that will reshape life on Earth, and sends a clear message to China and every other competitor that we are not ceding this frontier to anyone.”
We should be all in on @NASAMoonBase.
— Congressman Pat Harrigan (@RepPatHarrigan) March 24, 2026
A permanent lunar base means America controls the high ground in space, develops technologies that will reshape life on Earth, and sends a clear message to China and every other competitor that we are not ceding this frontier to anyone.
Harrigan’s comments came as NASA officials outlined new details of the agency’s lunar strategy during its Ignition event, where leadership described a phased plan to establish a long-term human presence on the Moon.
In opening remarks, NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said the agency will build a Moon base through a three-phase approach designed to transition from early experimentation to permanent infrastructure. The plan begins with increased robotic missions and technology testing before advancing to semi-habitable systems and, ultimately, a continuous human presence on the lunar surface.
“The Moon base will not appear overnight,” Isaacman said, noting the effort will involve dozens of missions over several years in partnership with commercial companies and international allies.
The initial phase focuses on expanding lunar landings through programs such as Commercial Lunar Payload Services and the Lunar Terrain Vehicle initiative, delivering rovers, instruments, and scientific payloads to test mobility, power systems, communications, and surface operations. Later phases aim to introduce more advanced infrastructure capable of supporting regular astronaut missions and long-duration habitation.
NASA said the strategy reflects a broader shift toward sustained operations rather than one-off missions, with the goal of establishing a permanent foothold on the Moon that can serve as a proving ground for future exploration of Mars and beyond, according to a news release from NASA.
The agency also emphasized that the effort will rely heavily on partnerships across industry and allied nations, with increasing mission frequency and reusable systems designed to make lunar operations more routine over time.
Harrigan framed the initiative in strategic terms, highlighting its role in global competition and technological development. His remarks echo a growing view among policymakers that space infrastructure, particularly on the Moon, could play a central role in national security, economic growth, and scientific advancement in the years ahead.
While NASA has not provided a definitive timeline for a fully operational lunar base, officials say the phased approach is intended to build capabilities incrementally, laying the groundwork for a sustained human presence beyond Earth.
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