Executive Order Makes Firm Commitments to Moon, Mars, Defense, and More

The White House has set the US up for a much-needed space policy reset, signing an executive order that puts civil exploration, national security, and commercial development much higher on the priority list. ‘Ensuring American Space Superiority’ formally commits the nation to returning astronauts to the Moon by 2028, beginning construction of a permanent lunar outpost by 2030, and laying technical groundwork for eventual human missions to Mars.

On the civil side, the order directs NASA to accelerate its lunar timeline while preparing for the planned retirement of the International Space Station by 2030. In its place, the administration confirmed its support for commercially operated space stations, shifting low Earth orbit operations toward private industry. NASA is being asked to deliver a detailed implementation plan within 90 days, including how it will address technology, supply chain, and industrial capacity gaps with existing budgets.

The order also revives and expands efforts to develop space-based nuclear power, requiring agencies to create guidance for a National Initiative for American Space Nuclear Power within 60 days. The overarching goal is to have a reactor ready for lunar or orbital deployment by 2030. In the meantime, space weather forecasting and approaches to space traffic management and orbital debris mitigation will be getting revamped.

Commercial space also receives a big nudge in the right direction. The executive order targets $50 billion in new private investment by 2028 and increased launch and reentry cadence through infrastructure upgrades and regulatory reform. Without getting too far into specifics, the clear message is to lean more heavily on commercial services and partnerships.

National security space is another pillar of the directive, with the Pentagon being instructed to prioritize space superiority, modernize military space architecture, and integrate commercial capabilities into defense systems. The order calls for prototypes of next-generation space-based missile defense technologies to be demonstrated by 2028, as well as additional monitoring of threats in low Earth orbit and cislunar space.

Money is a big part of broader space troubles, which is why NASA and the Department of Commerce have been told to review their programs and flag any that are significantly over budget or behind schedule. The Commerce Department is also given more room to bill for civil space traffic coordination services rather than absorbing the charge itself.

“Superiority in space is a measure of national vision and willpower, and the technologies Americans develop to achieve it contribute substantially to the Nation’s strength, security, and prosperity,” the order says.

FMI: www.nasa.gov