1 hour ago
In a speech at a conference, NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman just laid out his vision for America’s next phase in space.
Some bullet points:
• NASA expects “dozens of landers” and “dozens of rovers” to head to the Moon over the next four years, alongside major robotics and lunar resource experiments.
• Isaacman said the lunar south pole has only a limited number of viable landing areas near permanently shadowed craters containing water ice, creating what he described as a race for a small number of strategic “parking spots.”
• He warned China is targeting the same region, intends to build a lunar base with Russia and “will get to the Moon.” Isaacman said China is now an “incredible rival” and that “the Chinese are extremely good in space right now.”
• Isaacman called SpaceX NASA’s “most important launch partner” and said the U.S. would be “seriously challenged in the high ground of space” without its capabilities.
• On Mars, he argued the hardest problem is not getting astronauts there, but getting them home - and said NASA should develop nuclear-powered transfer vehicles that reduce the need to manufacture return propellant on Mars.
• He said NASA’s SR-1 Freedom nuclear mission will be followed by “SR-2, SR-3, SR-4,” with technology ultimately aimed at destinations including Enceladus, Europa and Titan.
Some bullet points:
• NASA expects “dozens of landers” and “dozens of rovers” to head to the Moon over the next four years, alongside major robotics and lunar resource experiments.
• Isaacman said the lunar south pole has only a limited number of viable landing areas near permanently shadowed craters containing water ice, creating what he described as a race for a small number of strategic “parking spots.”
• He warned China is targeting the same region, intends to build a lunar base with Russia and “will get to the Moon.” Isaacman said China is now an “incredible rival” and that “the Chinese are extremely good in space right now.”
• Isaacman called SpaceX NASA’s “most important launch partner” and said the U.S. would be “seriously challenged in the high ground of space” without its capabilities.
• On Mars, he argued the hardest problem is not getting astronauts there, but getting them home - and said NASA should develop nuclear-powered transfer vehicles that reduce the need to manufacture return propellant on Mars.
• He said NASA’s SR-1 Freedom nuclear mission will be followed by “SR-2, SR-3, SR-4,” with technology ultimately aimed at destinations including Enceladus, Europa and Titan.