NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman has stated that the progress of the Artemis program, specifically the Artemis II mission, would not have been possible without former President Donald Trump. These remarks were made during an interview as the Orion spacecraft was nearing or set to pass beyond the far side of the Moon. Isaacman attributed Trump's role to the establishment of a national space policy during his administration.
Administrator Credits Trump for Artemis II Progress
During an interview with Fox News Digital, NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman credited former President Donald Trump for the advancement of the Artemis II mission. Isaacman's comments coincided with the Orion spacecraft's approach to the far side of the Moon.
He explicitly stated:
"We would not be at this moment right now with Artemis II if it wasn't for President Trump. And we certainly would not have an achievable path now to get back to the lunar surface and build that enduring presence."
The Policy Context
Isaacman further explained that a national space policy was established during the Trump administration. He indicated this policy was issued during what he described as President Trump's second term or his initial days in office during that period.
This policy reportedly mandated several key objectives:
- Frequent lunar missions.
- The construction or establishment of a moon base.
- The development of advanced technologies, including nuclear power and propulsion.
The long-term goal of this policy was to facilitate future human missions to Mars and enable American astronauts to reach the planet.