2 days ago
3
One source said the space transition team has been working off of ideas that Trump has talked about publicly, including his interest in Mars. For example, during a campaign speech this fall, Trump referenced SpaceX founder Elon Musk, who played a significant role during the campaign both in terms of time and money, and his desire to settle Mars.
"We are leading in space over Russia and China... It's my plan, I'll talk to Elon," Trump said in September. "Elon get those rocket ships going because we want to reach Mars before the end of my term, and we want also to have great military protection in space."
Ideas under consideration
The transition team has been discussing possible elements of an executive order or other policy directives. They include:
- Establishing the goal of sending humans to the Moon and Mars, by 2028
- Canceling the costly Space Launch System rocket and possibly the Orion spacecraft
- Consolidating Goddard Space Flight Center and Ames Research Center at Marshall Space Flight Center in Alabama
- Retaining a small administration presence in Washington, DC, but otherwise moving headquarters to a field center
- Rapidly redesigning the Artemis lunar program to make it more efficient
"Is any of this written in stone? No," a source told Ars.
Additionally, substantive changes will need to be worked through the White House Office of Management and Budget, and negotiated with Congress, which funds NASA.
Previously, Trump has announced that entrepreneur and commercial astronaut Jared Isaacman will be nominated to serve as NASA Administrator. Although he has been working to create a staff for his administration, Isaacman has not been involved in the transition team discussions, sources said. Rather, after he is confirmed, Isaacman is likely to be given authority to review major programs at the space agency "at the speed of light."
English (US) ·