{
  "id": 17067405,
  "title": "NASA Slams the Accelerator to Get to the Moon Before Trump’s Term Is Over",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/29/nasa-slams-the-accelerator-to-get-to-the-moon-before-trumps-term-is",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-10-29T13:47:03.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Futurism",
    "slug": "futurism",
    "url": "https://futurism.com/space/nasa-slams-accelerator-moon-trump-term"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "NASA is rapidly accelerating its efforts to reach the Moon and establish a lunar base, with the aim of sending astronauts there within two years of President Donald Trump's term ending. On Friday, NASA's administrator, Jared Isaacman, reiterated this ambitious timeline during a speech at the Kennedy Space Center. The agency is set to launch Artemis 3 next summer, a test mission that will not land astronauts on the Moon, but will instead practice docking their spacecraft with lunar landers built by SpaceX or Blue Origin in Earth's orbit. The exact vehicle that will be used for the landing remains uncertain, as NASA has not yet made a decision, which is a significant point of uncertainty. If successful, Artemis IV, scheduled for 2028, would be the first lunar landing in over half a century, where astronauts would spend a week conducting scientific missions on the lunar surface. NASA's administrator emphasized that the agency is now speeding up its pace by reducing meetings, bureaucratic delays, and endless deliberation. However, this accelerated approach raises questions about whether the rush could compromise thoroughness and safety. Isaacman drew parallels to NASA's storied lunar history, pointing to the nine-month transition from Apollo 7 splashdown to Apollo 11 as proof of the agency's ability to achieve impressive milestones quickly. The Apollo program landed on the Moon six times between 1968 and 1974, a pace that seems daunting today. However, NASA is also venturing into uncharted territory by planning to build a base near the Moon's south pole, unlike the Apollo missions which were concentrated near the equator. Moreover, there are concerns about whether SpaceX's Starship, a key component of the mission, will be ready in time. The rocket recently completed its first successful orbit around the planet, but a previous attempt was aborted due to an engine failure. SpaceX has yet to demonstrate the rocket's safety for proper space missions and other capabilities such as in-space refueling. NASA astronaut Frank Rubio, selected for the Artemis III mission, described the mission as incredibly ambitious and emphasized the need for confidence in America's capabilities.",
  "summary": "Buckle up. The post NASA Slams the Accelerator to Get to the Moon Before Trump’s Term Is Over appeared first on Futurism .",
  "key_points": [
    "NASA aims to land astronauts on Moon by end of Trump's term.",
    "Artemis 3 test mission in summer, no lunar landing.",
    "NASA speeding up pace, risking thoroughness and safety."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}