Produced by: Manoj Kumar
NASA’s Artemis program aims to return humans to the Moon, but shifting political influences and Elon Musk’s Mars obsession could derail its future.
With Donald Trump’s return, speculation is rising that the costly Space Launch System (SLS) rocket could be scrapped, potentially reshaping lunar and Martian ambitions.
Since Apollo 17 in 1972, NASA has struggled to return humans to the Moon. Artemis-2 is now delayed until 2026, while private companies and nations advance faster.
India, China, and private space firms have already landed on the Moon. If NASA shifts focus to Mars, other players could dominate lunar exploration.
A trip to Mars is 833 times farther than to the Moon. Astronauts would face extreme isolation, limited launch windows, and no rescue options once en route.
The Lunar Gateway was planned as a stepping stone for Mars missions, but if NASA skips the Moon, this orbiting station may never materialize.
Musk’s SpaceX plans uncrewed Mars landings soon, but human missions remain a huge risk. Safety, profitability, and logistics could make or break the venture.
Prioritizing Mars over the Moon may accelerate deep-space exploration, but it leaves gaps for other nations to claim lunar dominance and key launch advantages.
NASA must choose: split resources and risk failure, or go all-in on Mars with SpaceX, hoping Musk’s timeline isn’t just another ambitious dream.