Italy has pledged over $5 billion to support NASA’s lunar exploration program. The funding is primarily directed toward the development of the Multi-Purpose Habitat, a pressurized module designed for long-duration stays on the Moon. This investment secures two seats for Italian astronauts on future lunar surface missions.
The habitat module is being developed by Thales Alenia Space under a contract with the Italian Space Agency. The unit is designed to measure three meters in width and six meters in length, with a mass of approximately 15 tonnes. It aims to support two crew members for missions lasting between seven and 30 days.
The project successfully passed a System Requirements Review in May. The next phase, a Preliminary Design Review, is scheduled for 2027. According to current timelines, the module is expected to be completed by 2032, with a planned launch in 2033. The agreement follows discussions between NASA and Italian officials regarding lunar cooperation.
