Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.
NASA highlighted robotics as essential in its plan for a sustained presence on the Moon during the 2026 FIRST Robotics World Championship in Houston, which brought together over 1,000 student teams and more than 51,000 students, parents, and mentors.
The agency outlined its ambition to build a permanent lunar outpost, known as Moon Base, to serve as a hub for exploration, scientific research, and technology demonstrations, ultimately supporting missions to Mars and beyond. Early efforts focus on rapid robotic and uncrewed missions aimed at preparing the lunar surface for upcoming Artemis crewed missions.
This plan includes an accelerated schedule of Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) missions, aiming for up to 30 robotic lunar landings by 2027 to deliver rovers, hoppers, drones, and other science and technology payloads.
The event featured exhibits on technological advancements such as Automated Reconfigurable Mission Adaptive Digital Assembly Systems, modular small robots and algorithms designed to autonomously build large infrastructure in space. This technology could reduce reliance on transporting assembled equipment from Earth, supporting sustainable deep space exploration.
NASA also presented Cooperative Autonomous Distributed Robotic Exploration, with three small lunar rovers operating together to collect complex datasets not possible for a single robot. These collaborative missions may boost science objectives, improve navigation in hazardous terrain, and assist astronauts on the Moon.
Another highlight was the SkyFall Mars Helicopters, which build on the Ingenuity Mars Helicopter’s 72 flights at Mars’ Jezero Crater. These aerial scouts will aid scientific and mission planning for future human expeditions to Mars.
NASA centers including Johnson Space Center, Kennedy Space Center, Langley Research Center, Ames Research Center, Michoud Assembly Facility, and Armstrong Flight Research Center participated to engage with future engineers and innovators.