US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order outlining an ‘America First’ vision for space, positioning space dominance as a pillar of national power, economic growth, and security.
The directive commits the United States to returning astronauts to the Moon by 2028 and establishing a permanent lunar presence by 2030.
Titled Ensuring American Space Superiority, the order directs federal agencies to align policy, funding, and regulation to strengthen US leadership across Earth orbit, cislunar space, and beyond.
Under the new policy, the US will prioritise a human return to the Moon through NASA’s Artemis programme by 2028.
The plan also calls for deploying the initial elements of a permanent lunar outpost by 2030, marking a long-term American presence on the Moon.
The order emphasises improving the sustainability and affordability of launch systems, with a strong push to expand commercial launch services and accelerate lunar exploration capabilities.
The directive outlines plans to develop next-generation missile defence technologies by 2028 and enhance the detection and countering of threats to US space interests, ranging from very low Earth orbit to cislunar space. It also reiterates efforts to prevent the placement of nuclear weapons in space.
To strengthen national security, the administration aims to build a more responsive space architecture by speeding up acquisition reforms and integrating commercial space capabilities.
Boost to Commercial Space Economy
According to a White House fact sheet, the order seeks to expand a ‘vibrant commercial space economy’, targeting at least $50 billion in additional private investment by 2028.
The plan includes modernising launch and re-entry infrastructure and creating a commercial successor to the International Space Station by 2030.
The policy highlights advanced technologies, including deploying nuclear reactors on the Moon and in orbit, with a lunar surface reactor planned for launch readiness by 2030.
It also calls for better space-based weather forecasting, navigation services, space traffic management, and debris mitigation.
Additionally, the order strengthens cooperation with allies on space security and directs the State Department to ensure international space agreements align with US strategic priorities.
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