The United States (US) will return to the Moon during President Donald Trump’s second tenure, newly appointed NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said, outlining an ambitious vision for lunar exploration and the development of a future “orbital economy”.
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Speaking on CNBC’s Closing Bell Overtime, Isaacman said the renewed push towards the Moon reflects a shared commitment between NASA and the Trump administration to re-establish a sustained human presence beyond Earth. He described lunar exploration as a critical step toward expanding economic activity in space.
Isaacman’s remarks came shortly after his confirmation by the US Senate, concluding a nomination process that began in December 2024. Initially nominated by President Trump, his appointment faced delays amid concerns over his professional ties with SpaceX chief Elon Musk. He was renominated last month and subsequently confirmed.
The NASA chief highlighted a range of potential opportunities linked to a return to the Moon, including the establishment of space-based data centres, development of permanent infrastructure and the mining of Helium-3 — a rare isotope found on the lunar surface that could be used as fuel for future fusion energy.
He also spoke about long-term plans to build a lunar base and invest in nuclear power systems and space nuclear propulsion, technologies he said could significantly accelerate exploration timelines and reduce mission costs.
NASA’s efforts are being carried out under the Artemis programme, which aims to return astronauts to the Moon and eventually pave the way for crewed missions to Mars. The agency is working with major aerospace contractors including SpaceX, Blue Origin and Boeing.
The Artemis II mission, a crewed test flight around the Moon, is expected to launch in the near future. This will be followed by Artemis III, which is planned to land astronauts on the lunar surface using a landing system being developed by SpaceX.
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According to Isaacman, advances in heavy-lift launch vehicles and on-orbit cryogenic propellant transfer are expected to make lunar missions more frequent and affordable, strengthening the foundation for deeper space exploration.