NASA remains committed to returning astronauts to the moon as part of its Artemis program, despite recent comments from US President Donald Trump and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk suggesting a shift in focus to Mars.
The agency has been working towards establishing a sustainable human presence on the moon since 2017, with the goal of making it a stepping stone for further exploration of the solar system. However, Trump’s election to his second term and Musk’s comments have raised questions about the agency’s priorities.
Acting NASA Administrator Janet Petro stated that the moon is still a key part of NASA’s plans, citing the prospect of having “many, many boots on the moon” as a defining success. She also expressed excitement about the possibility of establishing a network of private space stations in low Earth orbit and sending humans to Mars.
Petro steered clear of discussing politics during her recent fireside chat at the Commercial Space Conference, instead focusing on the agency’s collaborations with commercial partners. However, it remains unclear how long she will lead NASA, as Trump has nominated billionaire tech entrepreneur Jared Isaacman to take over the agency on a permanent basis pending Senate confirmation.
For now, NASA’s focus on the moon appears to remain intact, with the Artemis program continuing to drive progress towards establishing a sustainable human presence in space.
Source: https://www.yahoo.com/news/moon-mars-why-not-both-172842942.html