Former President Donald Trump has backed a $10 billion boost for NASA’s Artemis program, shifting the agency’s focus toward the Moon and away from Elon Musk’s Mars ambitions. The Senate’s “Big Beautiful Bill” redirects resources to return astronauts to the lunar surface, delaying efforts to send humans to the Red Planet.
While Musk’s SpaceX has focused on building reusable rockets for Mars missions, NASA’s Artemis relies on the older, more expensive Space Launch System to achieve a Moon landing by 2026 and establish a long-term lunar presence. Musk has criticized Artemis as wasteful and politically driven, arguing that it distracts from more ambitious goals like Mars colonization.
The funding marks a reversal of previous plans to cut costs on the SLS and suggests a shift in priorities, possibly tied to Trump’s strained relationship with Musk. This realignment signals a renewed national emphasis on lunar missions over deep space exploration.
As a result, NASA will focus on Moon missions through the decade, pushing Mars efforts into the 2030s. While Artemis benefits from the new support, SpaceX may be forced to adjust its strategy if it wants continued government funding.