Donald Trump signed an executive order to send astronauts to the Moon by 2028

Donald Trump signed an executive order establishing the priority of returning astronauts to the Moon by 2028, through NASA's Artemis program. This initiative, announced during his first term, underscores the intention to assert the U.S. leadership role in space exploration. The document also provides for the creation of a lunar base by 2030 and the installation of a nuclear reactor on the Moon. The Artemis 3 mission, which is supposed to bring Americans back to the Moon, is scheduled for mid-2027, although delays related to the lunar module developed by SpaceX could affect this timeline.

The decree puts pressure on NASA and the private sector, considering that China intends to send astronauts to the Moon by 2030. Trump recently changed the strategy, emphasizing the Moon before a potential mission to Mars, influenced by internal disputes and political pressures.