NASA has scrapped its plan to send the first woman and person of color to the moon, citing a directive from US President Donald Trump to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion practices at federal agencies. The space agency deleted the DEI promise from its 2027 Artemis mission statement.
The original mission statement included a commitment to sending the first woman, first person of color, and first international partner astronaut to the moon. However, the new version omits any mention of diversity in favor of language focusing on scientific discovery and exploration.
NASA spokesperson Allard Beutel confirmed the change, stating that the agency is adhering to Trump’s executive order. The move comes as several US companies have rolled back their DEI policies amid criticism from conservatives.
This decision marks a significant shift for NASA’s long-standing Artemis programme, which aims to send humanity back to the moon’s surface in 2027. The program’s original promise was central to its goals and will likely face criticism from advocates for diversity and inclusion.
Source: https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/nasa-scraps-plan-to-land-1st-woman-and-person-of-colour-on-moon-heres-why-7997354