Martha McHardy
From America's 250th birthday to the the 2026 World Cup, President-elect Donald Trump will enjoy the global spotlight during a number of major events in two years' time. But one will likely be sweeter for him than all others: he is poised to become only the second president in history to place a phone call to the moon.
In September 2026, NASA's Artemis program is due to return humans to the moon for the first time since 1972. If successful, it will be the culmination of years of scientific endeavor, commitment and ingenuity—all qualities for which NASA is famed around the world.
By then, however, NASA's role may have been transformed, experts have told Newsweek. The extraordinary comeback of Trump heralds the possibility of big changes to the 66-year-old agency, including much deeper partnership with the private sector, a push toward Mars exploration, and a renewed focus on competing with America's key rival on Earth and in space: China.
By Trump's side is Elon Musk, the billionaire entrepreneur who is the face of modern space exploration with his rocket company SpaceX. Musk, who is set to lead the newly created Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), gave Trump a demonstration of his remarkable achievements when the president-elect joined him to watch a launch of SpaceX's Starship Rocket in Texas.
Musk's leadership at SpaceX has reshaped the space industry, demonstrating that private companies can deliver innovative, cost-effective solutions faster than government programs. However, his potential involvement in shaping space federal policy raises not only potential conflicts of interest, but also questions about priorities, funding, and his influence on NASA—an agency beset by ageing infrastructure and budget challenges.
No comments:
Post a Comment