HANCOCK COUNTY, Miss. (WLOX) – For over 50 years, the moon has remained untouched by human hands. President Donald Trump is looking to change that and establish “American space superiority” with a new man leading NASA.
New NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman has been on the job for 28 days. In that time, he’s been going from space center to space center, including Stennis Space Center, to find out about the projects that are sending the next generation to the moon. He steps into the role with high expectations and lofty goals.
“You know, you come and work at NASA and you know what you’re here for,” explained Isaacman. “You’re here to change the world in air and space.”
President Trump signed an executive order the same day Isaacman was confirmed as NASA’s new administrator. It sets a timeline for major milestones not only for the country, but for all mankind: a crew on the moon by 2028 and beginning work on a lunar base by 2030.
“Stennis has always played an important part in America’s accomplishments in human space exploration, but I’ll tell you, Stennis doesn’t stand still in time,” Isaacman added. “They are constantly looking at, ‘What is the future in space exploration and discovery ten years from now, and how do we start making preparations for today?’”
Stennis Space Center serves as the test site for the MS-25 engines that power the rockets that will send a crew to the moon, potentially as early as February.
“No question we are in a race right now,” said Isaacman. “As I’ve mentioned before, the high ground has always mattered. President Trump recognizes that. We certainly understand the part we have to play in that at NASA. I’ll tell you, we won the last space race, and it turned out, in hindsight, we had a lot of time to spare. We had a schedule margin. I don’t think we have that now.”
So, what does havina domineering space presence provide? According to Isaacman, it gives security, economy, and the mother of all resources: energy.
“If you ask me, I think we’re going to have a thriving lunar economy. I think we’re going to be extracting Helium-3 from it. It has applications in fusion power. It has applications in quantum computing, and that’s why you want to get there. Our foreign policy, energy has played a role in it for more than a century. We don’t want to take a chance and come in second place on something that could change the balance of power here on Earth.”
Presidents have made promises about getting to space before, but now, the timelines are set and the rockets are being made.
The Artemis II rocket will launch as soon as February. The manned missions plan to fly all the way into the moon’s orbit and return to Earth.
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