Overview
- In a CNBC interview, Administrator Jared Isaacman said the United States will return to the Moon within President Trump's second term.
- He vowed to build a permanent base and outlined priorities that include space data centers, potential Helium‑3 extraction, and investments in nuclear power and nuclear propulsion.
- The plan aligns with a recent executive order directing a crewed landing by 2028 and an initial outpost by 2030 with acquisition reforms that emphasize private investment.
- Operationally, Artemis II is nearing launch, and Artemis III is slated to use a lunar lander currently contracted from SpaceX, with Blue Origin and Boeing also participating.
- Isaacman's remarks follow his Senate confirmation after a drawn‑out nomination process that included a temporary withdrawal over unspecified "prior associations."