Space policy is not on the ballot in 2024. Whether former President Donald Trump or Vice President Kamala Harris wins the presidential election, the direction of America’s space program is not expected to change dramatically, especially with regard to the Artemis program.
Still, whoever is sworn in on January 20th will face major challenges ahead.
Vice President Kamala Harris was suddenly selected as the Democratic presidential candidate.National Space CouncilThroughout the Biden administration, Harris has played a lesser role in shaping space policy than Trump’s vice president, Mike Pence.SpaceNews suggestsEven if she wins the presidential election, little change is expected in space policy.
Politico added:Harris is enthusiastic about the Artemis program, which aims to return to the moon.
If former President Donald Trump wins a second term, a similar development is likely, although there may be a greater emphasis on space than under the Biden administration. The 2024 Republican Platform The Trump administration’s second term will focus on commercial space and space exploration. Call These include “robust manufacturing in near-Earth orbit,” sending American astronauts “back to the Moon and to Mars,” and strengthening collaboration with private space companies to “revolutionize our access to space, our ability to live in space and our ability to develop assets in space.”
It should be noted that this paragraph is under a chapter on economic policy, not science. This is as clear and concise as any mission statement ever written.
TrumpProject ArtemisDuring his first term, he oversaw the complete blossoming of commercial space;Commercial Crewprogram,Commercial Lunar Payload ServicesProgram andManned Landing System.He is expected to put more emphasis on space development during his expected second term.
Since personnel decisions determine policy, there is great interest in who each candidate appoints as NASA administrator.
Jim Bridenstine, who served as NASA administrator under Trump, would likely rise to the top of the list if Trump wins a second term. Having successfully launched the Artemis program, he may be the perfect person to see it through to at least the first moon landing.
Harris also has the option of keeping Bill Nelson in his position to run NASA: Despite being in his 80s, the former senator shows no plans to slow down.
On the other hand, if Harris wants someone younger to run NASA, Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) would be a good choice.
Kelly’s status as a former astronaut is less important than the fact that he’s a politician: Bridenstine, a congressman before leading NASA, and Nelson, a one-time U.S. senator, have demonstrated that political experience is essential to winning funding and other support for space agencies and their programs.
Regardless of who is elected president and who is chosen to run NASA, there are two big issues that will have to be addressed regarding America’s civilian space program.
For one, the Commercial Crew Program has yet to develop a competitive privately manned space sector. Although SpaceX’s Crew Dragon regularly sends humans into low Earth orbit,Boeing Starliner’s troublesCommercial crewing is a monopoly, which is proving to be far from a healthy situation in the long term. Somehow, we need to find another provider of manned space transportation.
Second, the Artemis program to return to the Moon and go to Mars is plagued by the same problems that have plagued other NASA programs, such as the International Space Station and the James Webb Space Telescope. Artemis is taking longer and costlier than originally expected, and the next moon landing has been pushed back from 2024.Until 2026It is likely to fall further.
The next president and NASA administrator need to identify and fix the problems that are slowing down the Artemis program, or the next person to walk on the moon may be Chinese, with unpleasant and embarrassing ramifications for America’s standing in the world.
Which of the next presidents has the experience and the skills to address these issues is a question that any voter who cares about the future of space must decide.
Mark R. Whittington:Why is it so hard to get back to the Moon?” “The Moon, Mars and Beyond” and more recently “Why is America returning to the Moon?He runs a blogThe mean guy’s corner.
