After Donald Trump became the US President again, NASA is undergoing radical changes. Following the budget cut decision made by the Trump administration, human missions to the Moon were put on the back burner. In contrast, Mars projects continue to gain momentum.

NASA prioritizes Mars missions

NASA’s budget was cut in half with the latest regulation. This cut directly affected the agency’s current projects. In particular, the Artemis program, which includes sending humans to the Moon, has been left in serious uncertainty. The agency’s resources and manpower are now being directed to Mars projects.

NASA spokesperson Bethany Stevens made the first official statement about plans for Mars. Stevens said they wanted to evaluate suitable launch windows that will emerge in 2026 and 2028.

This statement indicates that NASA could send a new mission to Mars as early as next year. It is stated that the missions will be unmanned and the main purpose is to prepare the ground for future human Mars journeys.

NASA’s decision also aligns with Elon Musk’s views, who has long advocated that Mars should be the focus. Musk has argued that projects to return to the Moon are a waste of time; he has repeatedly stated that NASA should focus entirely on Mars.

Shortly after taking office, new NASA Director Jared Isaacman said in a statement that private companies would limit their influence on NASA. However, the fact that Mars projects were brought forward just weeks after Isaacman’s statement raised questions about whether the decision-making processes within the agency were independent of figures like Elon Musk.

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