President Donald Trump took executive action on Thursday aimed at ensuring American dominance in space exploration, commerce, and defense, pushing for another moon landing in 2028.
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“Superiority in space is a measure of national vision and willpower, and the technologies Americans develop to achieve it contribute substantially to the Nation’s strength, security, and prosperity,” a White House statement read.
“The United States must therefore pursue a space policy that will extend the reach of human discovery, secure the Nation’s vital economic and security interests, unleash commercial development, and lay the foundation for a new space age,” it added.
The order includes a long list of promises and directives, laying out the administration’s space-related priorities and directing various government agencies and officials to take steps to carry them out.
The order promises to prioritize getting a U.S. citizen back on the moon for the first time in over 50 years with the Artemis Program in 2028. According to the order, the program will lay the groundwork for future economic development on the moon and serve as preparation for an eventual manned flight to Mars.
By 2030, the administration aims to establish the beginnings of a permanent lunar outpost and begin preparations to place a nuclear reactor on the Moon.
The order also aims to enhance commercial opportunities in space travel and will encourage a private sector alternative to the International Space Station by 2030, when it is scheduled to be decommissioned.
President Trump will also prioritize space-related national security concerns, including the development of new missile defense technologies by 2028, along with enhanced capabilities that can detect potential nuclear weapons placed in orbit.
