Trump urges human moon landing by 2028

WASHINGTON,— U.S. President Donald Trump set a new U.S. goal to return humans to the moon by 2028 and strengthen space defense against missile threats through a broad executive order issued Thursday. The move marks the first major space policy initiative of Trump’s second term.

The order was released just hours after billionaire private astronaut and former SpaceX client Jared Isaacman took office as NASA’s 15th administrator. It also restructures national space policy coordination under Trump’s chief science adviser, Michael Kratsios.

Under the directive, formally titled “ENSURING AMERICAN SPACE SUPERIORITY,” the Pentagon and U.S. intelligence agencies are tasked with creating a comprehensive space security strategy.

The order also emphasizes improved efficiency among private contractors and calls for demonstrations of missile defense technologies as part of Trump’s Golden Dome program.

Although the executive order appeared to eliminate the National Space Council, a cabinet-level panel revived during Trump’s first term, an administration official said the council will continue under a revised structure within the White House’s Office of Technology Policy.

The official said the president, not the vice president, will chair the panel under the new arrangement.

The 2028 moon landing target reflects a shift from Trump’s 2019 goal of a 2024 lunar return. The timeline aims to maintain the moon as a central focus of U.S. space exploration policy, though many in the space industry considered the earlier schedule ambitious.

NASA’s delays with the Space Launch System and SpaceX’s Starship program have contributed to the revised timeline. Former President Barack Obama’s plan had already aimed for a 2028 lunar mission.

A moon landing in 2028 would mark the first step in NASA’s Artemis program, which seeks to establish a long-term human presence on the lunar surface. The United States faces competition from China, which aims to launch its first crewed lunar mission by 2030.

Trump’s order also calls for the “establishment of initial elements of a permanent lunar outpost by 2030,” supporting NASA’s ongoing plans for long-term bases, including the use of nuclear power sources.

At the beginning of his second term, Trump emphasized Mars missions, aligning with Elon Musk’s vision at SpaceX.

Musk, a major campaign donor, previously served as a government adviser focused on space and efficiency.

However, congressional lawmakers have urged NASA to prioritize lunar exploration, reflecting the significant investments already made in moon missions.

In an effort to streamline government operations, the White House has cut NASA’s workforce by 20% and proposed reducing the agency’s 2026 budget by about 25% from its typical $25 billion. Critics say the cuts could jeopardize key space science programs.

Isaacman is expected to deliver his first agency-wide address to NASA staff on Friday. He has stated that the agency should aim for both moon and Mars missions but prioritize the lunar program to maintain an edge over China.

The 2028 target relies heavily on SpaceX’s Starship development, which former NASA acting administrators have criticized for slow progress.

(With files from Reuters)