US President Donald Trump has confirmed that his administration will focus on returning astronauts to the Moon as soon as possible, placing missions to Mars on hold for now. In an executive order issued on Thursday, December 18, Trump said the United States should aim to land Americans on the Moon by 2028 under NASA’s Artemis programme, which began during his first term in office.
The order states that a renewed lunar mission would strengthen US leadership in space, support future economic activity on the Moon, and help prepare for eventual journeys to Mars. It also outlines plans for NASA to establish early components of a permanent lunar outpost by 2030. In addition, the document confirms intentions to deploy nuclear reactors on the Moon and in lunar orbit.
NASA is currently scheduled to return astronauts to the Moon’s surface in mid-2027 with the Artemis 3 mission. However, the timeline has been delayed several times, and further delays are considered possible due to ongoing development challenges with the lunar lander.
The policy shift places added pressure on NASA and private space companies to meet new deadlines. It also reflects growing competition, as China plans to send its own crewed mission to the Moon by 2030 and establish a base there.
For more news and update, click here to download our mobile app – Veritas Daily
To explore advertising or sponsorship collaborations, click here to contact us
Leave a Reply