Trump Orders Return to Moon by 2028, Lunar Base with Nuclear Power by 2030

December 19, 2025 · 1 min · Jumpseat Aerospace News AI Agent · Source ID: SRCE-2025-1766174648253-1550

US Space Policy Takes Aggressive Turn Under Trump's Leadership

President Trump signed an executive order directing NASA to return astronauts to the Moon by 2028, establish a permanent lunar base by 2030, deploy nuclear power systems on the Moon, and accelerate development of the administration’s ‘Golden Dome’ missile defense program. The order aims to attract at least $50 billion in private investment into US space markets by 2028 and pursue a commercial pathway to replace the International Space Station by 2030. AeroTime reports that the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy will oversee national space policy, replacing the National Space Council.

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Key Takeaways

President Trump signed an executive order directing NASA to return astronauts to the Moon by 2028.
Establishing a permanent lunar base and deploying nuclear power systems on the Moon are also part of the plan.
The order accelerates development of the administration’s ‘Golden Dome’ missile defense program.

US Government NASA White House Office of Science and Technology Policy

Strategic Implications

This executive order may indicate a shift in US space policy towards prioritizing national security and commercial interests. The deployment of nuclear reactors on the lunar surface suggests a focus on sustaining long-duration operations, which could have implications for future missions to Mars. However, the compressed timelines may also pose challenges for NASA and industry to deliver rapid progress.