(NewsNation) — The incoming Trump administration could overhaul NASA with several goals, including sending humans to the moon and Mars by 2028.
According to Ars Technica, a committee within the Trump transition team has spent the last five weeks or so, reviewing NASA’s space programs and could draft executive orders for a major overhaul of NASA, as soon as President-elect Donald Trump is in office.
What are the plans?
The policy changes being contemplated 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, D.C., but otherwise moving headquarters to a field center;
Rapidly redesigning the Artemis lunar program to make it more efficient.
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Jose Hernandez, a retired NASA astronaut, supports redesigning the Artemis lunar program but finds some proposed changes unrealistic.
“Some of it makes sense. Some of them are head-scratchers. Mars is at least 10 to 15 years away. There’s no way we’re going to get there in 2028. Simply because of the technical hurdles and what could happen to our bodies to long-duration space travel, so we’re not going to be able to send humans by 2028.”
While the team only makes suggestions, not policies, Trump’s direction focuses on speed and results in any changes.
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Substantive changes to NASA require approval from the White House Office of Management and Budget and Congress, as Congress controls NASA’s funding.
Trump has nominated billionaire entrepreneur and private space traveler Jared Isaacman as a NASA administrator, signaling a push toward privatizing space travel and consolidating resources. This includes a potential move of NASA headquarters from Washington, D.C., to one of its centers to streamline operations.
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The goal is to attract more space companies like Elon Musk’s SpaceX.
NASA has supported commercial space travel development for over two decades, which could give the U.S. a technological edge over China and enhance military protection in space.
Hernandez noted that many space companies are excited about the upcoming Trump administration’s approach, especially its new relationship with Musk.
The Hill contributed to this report.
