In a new statement, President Donald Trump said his administration had secured a “historic investment in human space exploration” and pledged Americans would return to the moon “this time to stay”.
The surprise about turn in support will come as a relief to Australia’s space sector, which is now heavily involved in the Artemis program.
Trump’s comments come after his so-called “Big Beautiful Bill”, a US federal statute focused on future spending, was signed into law and pledged US$4.1 billion for two new lunar landings, Artemis 4 and Artemis 5.
There was also a further US$20 million set aside to procure Lockheed Martin’s Orion space capsule and US$2.6 billion to develop the Lunar Gateway station.
Those projects were in doubt with the administration previously hinting it could cut Artemis and Gateway to focus on collaborations with private firms.
The backing follows the exit of Elon Musk from Trump’s inner circle, who was also heavily critical of the Artemis program, which he branded “extremely inefficient”.
“On July 20, 1969, Apollo 11 successfully landed the first crewed mission on the Moon, launching mankind into a new and uncharted era of human ingenuity,” said Trump.
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“As the entire world watched in awe, American astronauts stepped onto the lunar surface and planted the beautiful Stars and Stripes on the rocky soil.
“Our flag stood as a marker of National achievement, signalling to the entire world the unmatched might and unwavering resilience of the American spirit.
“Today, my Administration is building on the legacy of Apollo 11 by reigniting the United States’ leadership in space and shaping the future of American space exploration.
“During my first term, I proudly reestablished the National Space Council and created the Space Force, making space policy a national priority and ensuring that our Nation’s interests are protected beyond Earth.
“Through the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill, we secured a historic investment in human space exploration to ensure that America’s efforts in the realm of space remain innovative, efficient, and unmatched by other nations.
“We are refocusing the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) Artemis campaign, returning Americans to the Moon – this time to stay – and putting the first boots on Mars.
“At the same time, we are expanding partnerships with the greatest aerospace companies in the world to launch rockets, build landers, and deliver advanced technology that will drive a new and unparalleled era of space exploration.”
Artemis II aims to fly astronauts close to the moon in preparation for the final Artemis III mission that will return humans to the lunar surface.
The mission is currently scheduled to launch in April 2026 and will carry NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen.
Their 10-day journey will include flying 4,600 miles beyond the moon and back to Earth. During the voyage, the crew will evaluate the spacecraft’s performance, test its navigation and communication systems, as well as conduct experiments.
They will also perform a rendezvous operation with the Space Launch System’s upper stage, practising docking activities needed for Artemis III, now scheduled for 2027.
Artemis II, though, has repeatedly faced delays, not least due to a problem with the heat shield on Orion that NASA believes has been fixed.
However, earlier this year, Lockheed Martin revealed that it had completed work on the new Orion capsule, which also included new life support systems, controls, and audio communications.
Adam Thorn
Adam is a journalist who has worked for more than 40 prestigious media brands in the UK and Australia. Since 2005, his varied career has included stints as a reporter, copy editor, feature writer and editor for publications as diverse as Fleet Street newspaper The Sunday Times, fashion bible Jones, media and marketing website Mumbrella as well as lifestyle magazines such as GQ, Woman’s Weekly, Men’s Health and Loaded. He joined Momentum Media in early 2020 and currently writes for Australian Aviation and World of Aviation.
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