Moon Base in 2024

Earlier this month NASA announced plans to construct a base at one of the moon's poles. The poles are in near constant sunlight, which will allow for solar power generation at the base.

Construction will begin in 2020 with 4-person crews making 7-day visits to the moon until a functional base is completed in 2024. After that the base would be continually manned with rotating crews similar to how the International Space Station operates.

Before that, NASA will develop a new spaceship, the Crew Exploration Vehicle (CEV). The CEV will be shaped like the Apollo capsules but 3 times larger. It should be ready by 2010 and will replace the current space shuttle fleet. When the CEV returns to earth it will deploy three parachutes and set down on dry land.

Next, NASA will develop a lunar lander. The lander and the CEV will be put into Earth's orbit separately. They will attach in space before making the 3 day trip to the moon. In the moon's orbit the Lander and the CEV will detach with the lander going to the moon's surface.

More at   NASA: The Vision for Space Exploration