Space

NASA took a significant step Tuesday toward allowing humans on the moon to “live off the land,” awarding several contracts to build landing pads, roads and habitats on the lunar surface, use nuclear power for energy, and even lay a high-voltage power line over half a mile.

In all, the agency is investing a total of $150 million, while the 11 companies that received awards are required to invest their own money to pay at least 10 to 25 percent of their projects’ costs.