Trump orders return to Moon by 2028 with nuclear-powered base

Trump signed an executive order in Dec. 2025 titled 'Ensuring American Space Superiority' that calls for Americans to return to the Moon by 2028 and establish initial elements of a permanent lunar outpost by 2030. The order sets aggressive deadlines designed to beat China's lunar program. China announced plans to land taikonauts on the Moon by 2030. Trump's order aims to reach the Moon first and establish a permanent presence. The timeline is tighter than NASA's previous Artemis schedule.

The executive order directs NASA to deploy nuclear reactors on the Moon and in orbit, including a lunar surface reactor ready for launch by 2030. Nuclear power would enable permanent lunar habitation by providing reliable energy during the 14-day lunar night when solar panels don't work. NASA and the Department of Energy are developing small fission reactors specifically for space applications. The reactors would power habitats, life support, resource extraction, and scientific equipment.

The FY26 budget allocates more than $7 billion for lunar exploration and introduces $1 billion in new investments for Mars-focused programs. This represents a significant increase in human spaceflight funding compared to previous years. The White House framed the spending as necessary to maintain American leadership in space against Chinese competition. The Mars funding signals long-term ambitions beyond the Moon.

The reconciliation bill directs nearly $10 billion to keep the Space Launch System and Orion capsule funded for Artemis missions 4 and 5, including $4.1 billion specifically for SLS. Congress added this funding over the White House's objections. The White House wanted to cancel SLS after Artemis III and transition to commercial rockets. But Congress, especially lawmakers from states with SLS contractors like 🏈Alabama, insisted on keeping the program alive. The congressional intervention protected Boeing and Lockheed Martin jobs.

The White House plans to retire SLS and Orion after Artemis III, paving the way for more cost-effective, next-generation commercial systems to support subsequent NASA lunar missions. SpaceX's Starship is the leading candidate to replace SLS. Starship is fully reusable, far more powerful than SLS, and costs a fraction of SLS's $4.1 billion per launch. The shift reflects Trump's preference for commercial space companies over traditional NASA contractors.

The budget ends the Gateway Program, NASA's planned lunar space station, after the White House argued it was too expensive and duplicative. Gateway was designed as a staging point for lunar landings and deep space missions. Critics called it a boondoggle that added complexity without clear benefits. But Congress pushed back, preserving $2.6 billion for Gateway and requiring at least $750 million to be spent during FY 2026 through FY 2028. The congressional intervention saved Gateway from immediate cancellation.

The executive order eliminates the National Space Council, a coordinating body for space policy that included cabinet secretaries, NASA leadership, and military officials. The council was created during the Reagan administration, eliminated under Clinton, and revived under Trump's first term. The elimination consolidates space decision-making directly under the president. Critics warn that centralizing space policy reduces oversight, expert input, and coordination across agencies.

Trump's Moon plan aims to establish American dominance in cislunar space, the region between Earth and the Moon's orbit. This includes military and commercial applications. The Space Force is developing capabilities to defend satellites and infrastructure in cislunar space. The plan also encourages commercial lunar mining for water, rare earth elements, and helium-3. The strategic goal is to prevent China from controlling access to lunar resources and establishing military footholds on the Moon.