President Donald Trump has formally set a renewed national target to return American astronauts to the moon by 2028, alongside a directive to defend U.S. interests in space. The decision, issued through an executive order on Thursday, marks the first major space policy move of his second term.
The order followed the swearing-in of billionaire private astronaut and former SpaceX customer Jared Isaacman as NASA’s 15th administrator. It also reorganised the nation’s space policy structure under Trump’s chief science adviser, Michael Kratsios, signalling a new phase in the administration’s approach to space governance.
Overhaul of U.S. Space Strategy
Entitled “Ensuring American Space Superiority,” the order instructs the Pentagon and intelligence agencies to develop a comprehensive space security strategy. It further calls for greater efficiency among private contractors and seeks demonstrations of missile-defence technologies under Trump’s “Golden Dome” programme.
Initially, the order appeared to abolish the National Space Council, a policy body Trump reinstated during his first term. However, a senior administration official clarified that the council would continue operating under the White House Office of Technology Policy, now chaired by the president instead of the vice president.
Return to the Moon and Beyond
The 2028 lunar landing goal revives an earlier directive from 2019, when Trump sought to return astronauts to the moon by 2024 a timeline widely considered unrealistic due to development delays. Persistent challenges with NASA’s Space Launch System and SpaceX’s Starship have pushed back that target. Notably, NASA’s timeline under former president Barack Obama had already set 2028 as the intended landing year.
A successful 2028 mission would mark the first in a series of planned Artemis programme expeditions, aiming to establish a sustained presence on the lunar surface. The order reinforces NASA’s ambition to create the “initial elements of a permanent lunar outpost by 2030,” including facilities powered by nuclear energy.
Balancing Ambition and Budget Cuts
While Trump has publicly discussed eventual crewed missions to Mars, Congress has shifted focus back to the moon. Lawmakers have pressed Administrator Isaacman to prioritise lunar exploration, given the billions already invested in Artemis-related programmes.
The administration’s efficiency drive, led by Elon Musk in his role as a government adviser, has seen NASA’s workforce reduced by 20% and its 2026 budget slated for a 25% cut from the traditional $25 billion. These reductions have sparked concern among scientists and officials about the future of vital space-science projects.
Isaacman is expected to deliver his first agency-wide address on Friday, where he is likely to emphasise the dual pursuit of moon and Mars exploration. He has previously argued that a 2028 lunar landing would demonstrate American leadership in space and help the U.S. outpace China, which is targeting its own crewed moon landing by 2030. However, the success of the plan rests heavily on the progress of SpaceX’s Starship lander, which some critics claim is advancing too slowly.
(with inputs from Reuters)
