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2w ago

Acting NASA Chief Reorients Agency Toward Moon Missions Over Climate Science

Following a Trump executive order to slash space regulations, the plan also backs a decade-end lunar nuclear reactor to bolster U.S. competitiveness in space.

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a man with gray hair and pale complexion wears a gray suit and red tie while sitting at a table under a red, white and blue NASA logo on the wall behind him

Overview

  • Acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy announced that all climate and Earth science will be redirected toward exploration missions, marking a formal shift from previous administration priorities.
  • He said NASA has fast-tracked plans for a nuclear reactor on the lunar south pole, aiming to have a U.S. lunar reactor in place by the end of the decade.
  • The agency is implementing President Trump’s recent executive order to consolidate DOT, FAA, NASA and Commerce rules to reduce regulatory hurdles and accelerate U.S. commercial launches.
  • NASA confirmed a roughly 20 percent workforce reduction in July, part of broader staffing adjustments to align resources with the new exploration focus.
  • Duffy held high-level talks with his Russian counterpart, underscoring U.S. intent to compete with China and Russia for lunar infrastructure leadership.