NASA's new chief has unveiled an ambitious plan to create a $20 billion base on the moon.

It's cancelled plans to deploy a space station in lunar orbit, and will instead use the project's components to build the base. 

The US is pushing to return to the moon before China sends its astronauts there around 2030. 

Stardome astronomer Josh Aoraki says the base seems like a fever dream. 

"Since the Apollo missions, NASA has said they want to go to the moon, they want to have a long-term presence there. And they kinda haven't really solidified plans for decades."

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NASA's new chief has unveiled an ambitious plan to create a $20 billion base on the moon.
It's cancelled plans to deploy a space station in lunar orbit, and will instead use the project's components to build the base.&nbsp;
The US is pushing to return to the moon before China sends its astronauts there around 2030.&nbsp;
Stardome astronomer Josh Aoraki says the base seems like a fever dream.&nbsp;
"Since the Apollo missions, NASA has said they want to go to the moon, they want to have a long-term presence there. And they kinda haven't really solidified plans for decades."
LISTEN ABOVE

With a straight down the middle approach, Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive on Newstalk ZB delivers the very latest news and views to New Zealanders as they wrap up their day.

Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

Josh Aoraki: Stardome astronomer on NASA's plan to build a US$20 billion base on the moon

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/30ce9c8d-ea64-4d85-9e10-b418005d459c/transcript