The U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is bracing for a significant reduction in its workforce, with approximately 20% of its employees—around 3,870 individuals—set to leave the agency, a NASA spokesperson announced on Friday. While the exact number may shift in the coming weeks, the departures will leave NASA with a workforce of about 14,000. The spokesperson did not elaborate on the reasons behind the exodus or its potential impact on ongoing projects.

In a parallel development, the global space race gained momentum with a new contract signed between Thales Alenia Space (TAS), a joint venture of France’s Thales and Italy’s Leonardo, and the Italian Space Agency (ASI) to develop a pioneering lunar outpost for NASA’s Artemis program. This multi-nation initiative, which includes private companies like SpaceX, aims to establish a sustainable human presence on the moon as a stepping stone for future Mars missions.

The contract focuses on the Multi-Purpose Habitation Module, a critical component for long-term lunar exploration, slated for launch from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in 2033. ASI President Teodoro Valente described the module as part of Italy’s strategic investment in the new space race, positioning the country as a key player. The module will provide astronauts with a safe, comfortable, and versatile habitat, designed to integrate seamlessly with other lunar systems.

Beyond crewed missions, the module will support autonomous scientific experiments and feature mobility capabilities on the moon’s surface. Built to withstand the moon’s extreme conditions—high radiation, low gravity, and abrasive dust—it is engineered for a minimum 10-year lifespan. The initial two-year development phase, led by TAS in collaboration with ASI’s aerospace logistics partner ALTEC and other Italian firms, will prioritize technologies to endure these harsh environments.

The Artemis program’s progress highlights the growing international collaboration in space exploration, even as NASA navigates internal challenges with its workforce reduction. As the agency reshapes its future, the lunar outpost deal underscores the global commitment to advancing human exploration beyond Earth.