Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Munu

(114 posts)
Tue Jan 13, 2026, 03:01 PM Tuesday

Trump orders return to Moon by 2028, lunar base with nuclear power by 2030

Trump orders return to Moon by 2028, lunar base with nuclear power by 2030
Aerotime (aviation industry news outlet)

In a sweeping reset of US space policy, President Donald Trump on December 18, 2025, signed an executive order directing NASA to return astronauts to the Moon by 2028, establish the first elements of a permanent lunar base by 2030, deploy nuclear power systems on the Moon and in orbit, and accelerate development of the administration’s “Golden Dome” missile defense program.

The order, titled Ensuring American Space Superiority, sets some of the most aggressive space and defense timelines ever laid out in a single White House directive, blending civil exploration, national security, and commercial space development into one policy framework.

Under the order, NASA is instructed to land Americans on the Moon by 2028 through the Artemis program, and then move quickly toward establishing an initial, sustained lunar presence by the end of the decade. The administration frames the Moon not only as a destination, but as strategic infrastructure — a platform for economic activity, scientific research, and preparation for future missions to Mars.

...
33 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Trump orders return to Moon by 2028, lunar base with nuclear power by 2030 (Original Post) Munu Tuesday OP
Oh my gawd................ Lovie777 Tuesday #1
Wars of aggression, Gestapo in the streets, tax cuts for the rich and a ridiculous ballroom kimbutgar Tuesday #2
"We're going to become so rich, you're not gonna know where to spend all that money. I'm telling you -- just watch!" dalton99a Tuesday #32
Great, build a base on the moon and lock him there alone. Dave Bowman Tuesday #3
It look more and more like frontotemporal dementia with each passing day nt Torchlight Tuesday #4
I have heard he had syphilis, probably in an advanced phase displacedvermoter Tuesday #18
...and he himself will voyage to Uranus.... CurtEastPoint Tuesday #5
Let see... odins folly Tuesday #6
Our famously healthy POTUS should definitely lead the crew on this rushed mission to the moon! AZJonnie Tuesday #7
I'm sure he'll want to be the first MorbidButterflyTat Tuesday #14
He wants us to land on the sun afterwards Jerry2144 Tuesday #19
No no no. Rump should Be. The. Crew. Just him, all by himself. Disable the rocket so he cant return to earth. Trueblue1968 Tuesday #31
He'll be dead by then. sinkingfeeling Tuesday #8
The nightmare is an explosion on launch exboyfil Tuesday #9
Ummm... lots of nuclear material is already sent to space. Happy Hoosier Tuesday #15
When we ... Munu Tuesday #24
Enough uranium to power a moon colony? exboyfil Tuesday #25
A nuclear-powered moonbase "by 2030" means we have 47 months to do this. LeftinOH Tuesday #10
I think I've seen sdfernando Tuesday #23
He owns the moon now ? dweller Tuesday #11
And while they're at it, MorbidButterflyTat Tuesday #12
He'll have Leon build him a self drivg rocket Norbert Tuesday #13
His main object being to send astronauts up there with a case of black sharpies tavernier Tuesday #16
this was almost 4 weeks ago Celerity Tuesday #17
The day before the Epstein Files were to be released... By law. Hugin Tuesday #27
Monkey flies out ass by 2032 Johonny Tuesday #20
Let me guess... Americanme Tuesday #21
A nuclear-powered moonbase is actually a pretty good idea, but by 2030? Stick another absurd deadline to the next POTUS? 0rganism Tuesday #22
Does he even know what that bright white object is in the sky at night ..........that is not always white............... turbinetree Tuesday #26
Doesn't not having the engineering, vehicles, Botany Tuesday #28
Lunar base with nuclear power. Unintended consequences. Marcuse Tuesday #29
Trump orders /nt IcyPeas Tuesday #30
Well, that's not the worst idea he's ever had.... Jack Valentino Tuesday #33

kimbutgar

(26,884 posts)
2. Wars of aggression, Gestapo in the streets, tax cuts for the rich and a ridiculous ballroom
Tue Jan 13, 2026, 03:04 PM
Tuesday

Where’s the money coming from? And what happened to the repuke concern about deficits?

dalton99a

(92,291 posts)
32. "We're going to become so rich, you're not gonna know where to spend all that money. I'm telling you -- just watch!"
Tue Jan 13, 2026, 10:03 PM
Tuesday

- Donald Trump

displacedvermoter

(4,156 posts)
18. I have heard he had syphilis, probably in an advanced phase
Tue Jan 13, 2026, 04:00 PM
Tuesday

He likely won't be alive come 2028 and his moon landing deadline. I believe it is true, I strongly hope so!

odins folly

(554 posts)
6. Let see...
Tue Jan 13, 2026, 03:13 PM
Tuesday

Base on the moon, digging on the moon..

AI being given all of the important secrets of the pentagon….yea…

I think we’ve seen those movies before and it usually took 3 or 4 sequels for humans to regain control…

Dumbfucks….

AZJonnie

(2,870 posts)
7. Our famously healthy POTUS should definitely lead the crew on this rushed mission to the moon!
Tue Jan 13, 2026, 03:13 PM
Tuesday

He'll be what? 81? 82? Should be no problem for a such a studmuffin/physical specimen as IQ47!!!



If he balks, we tell him he's a shoo-in for being awarded the coveted NASA Peace Prize when he returns!

Jerry2144

(3,190 posts)
19. He wants us to land on the sun afterwards
Tue Jan 13, 2026, 04:01 PM
Tuesday

Last edited Tue Jan 13, 2026, 06:26 PM - Edit history (1)

But don’t worry, we’ll land at night. He’s a stable genius, right?

Trueblue1968

(19,093 posts)
31. No no no. Rump should Be. The. Crew. Just him, all by himself. Disable the rocket so he cant return to earth.
Tue Jan 13, 2026, 10:01 PM
Tuesday

One. Way. Trip. Send his entire family.

exboyfil

(18,341 posts)
9. The nightmare is an explosion on launch
Tue Jan 13, 2026, 03:29 PM
Tuesday

And the radioactive material dispersed all over Florida.

Happy Hoosier

(9,421 posts)
15. Ummm... lots of nuclear material is already sent to space.
Tue Jan 13, 2026, 03:55 PM
Tuesday

Many satellites are powered by a type of nuclear power using Radioisotope Power Systems.

This idiot does lots of wacky stuff, but this issue isn't really the problem. When we build a moonbase, it's power source will certainly be some form of nuclear power.

LeftinOH

(5,623 posts)
10. A nuclear-powered moonbase "by 2030" means we have 47 months to do this.
Tue Jan 13, 2026, 03:34 PM
Tuesday

Not just getting to the moon by then -- but having a habitable, fully staffed lunar base up and running first, THEN getting the nuclear power plant set up. The cost of such an endeavor is unimaginable.

MorbidButterflyTat

(4,222 posts)
12. And while they're at it,
Tue Jan 13, 2026, 03:48 PM
Tuesday

he demands NASA conquer Mars and round up all the Martians in detention centers.





Norbert

(7,595 posts)
13. He'll have Leon build him a self drivg rocket
Tue Jan 13, 2026, 03:50 PM
Tuesday

To the moon, he will pilot with gold shitter and all.

tavernier

(14,289 posts)
16. His main object being to send astronauts up there with a case of black sharpies
Tue Jan 13, 2026, 03:56 PM
Tuesday

to begin the project of writing his name on the moon so everyone on earth can see it.

Celerity

(53,751 posts)
17. this was almost 4 weeks ago
Tue Jan 13, 2026, 03:58 PM
Tuesday
https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/12/ensuring-american-space-superiority/



By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered:

Section 1. Purpose. Superiority in space is a measure of national vision and willpower, and the technologies Americans develop to achieve it contribute substantially to the Nation’s strength, security, and prosperity. The United States must therefore pursue a space policy that will extend the reach of human discovery, secure the Nation’s vital economic and security interests, unleash commercial development, and lay the foundation for a new space age.

Sec. 2. Policy. My Administration will focus its space policy on achieving the following priorities:

(a) Leading the world in space exploration and expanding human reach and American presence in space by:

(i) returning Americans to the Moon by 2028 through the Artemis Program, to assert American leadership in space, lay the foundations for lunar economic development, prepare for the journey to Mars, and inspire the next generation of American explorers;

(ii) establishing initial elements of a permanent lunar outpost by 2030 to ensure a sustained American presence in space and enable the next steps in Mars exploration; and

(iii) enhancing sustainability and cost-effectiveness of launch and exploration architectures, including enabling commercial launch services and prioritizing lunar exploration;

snip

Hugin

(37,472 posts)
27. The day before the Epstein Files were to be released... By law.
Tue Jan 13, 2026, 09:01 PM
Tuesday

So I am going to take any grandiose headline grabbing announcements from that time with a grain of salt.

Still waiting on the files, though. Tick. Tock.

0rganism

(25,478 posts)
22. A nuclear-powered moonbase is actually a pretty good idea, but by 2030? Stick another absurd deadline to the next POTUS?
Tue Jan 13, 2026, 05:11 PM
Tuesday

It's a good idea, but hardly an urgent one. Humanity's got pressing problems here & now at home, many self-inflicted and/or self-exacerbated. The moon's not going anywhere fast, no need for a rush job to meet an arbitrary deadline 4 years out.

turbinetree

(27,012 posts)
26. Does he even know what that bright white object is in the sky at night ..........that is not always white...............
Tue Jan 13, 2026, 08:57 PM
Tuesday

Botany

(76,452 posts)
28. Doesn't not having the engineering, vehicles,
Tue Jan 13, 2026, 09:08 PM
Tuesday

infrastructure, a craft that can land on the
moon and take off again, and ways to keep
the moon living humans from being cooked by cosmic rays cause any problems? BTW what about food, water,
and fuel?

Jack Valentino

(4,431 posts)
33. Well, that's not the worst idea he's ever had....
Tue Jan 13, 2026, 10:12 PM
Tuesday

because he's had a huge number of bad ideas.... and initially, it's not a terrible idea...


So how will we pay for it?? HOW ABOUT, a TAX INCREASE on the RICH ????

But I think the needs are closer to home--- you know,
increase taxes on the rich so we can quit starving the poor
and cutting off their healthcare? that sort of thing...




Latest Discussions»General Discussion»Trump orders return to Mo...