Nasa on Tuesday unveiled a broad set of agencywide initiatives at its “Ignition” event, laying out plans to speed up its return to the Moon, build a long-term lunar presence, shape the future of low Earth orbit, expand science missions, and move nuclear propulsion closer to flight as part of President Donald Trump’s National Space Policy.“Nasa is committed to achieving the near-impossible once again, to return to the Moon before the end of President Trump’s term, build a Moon base, establish an enduring presence, and do the other things needed to ensure American leadership in space. This is why it is essential we leave an event like Ignition with complete alignment on the national imperative that is our collective mission. The clock is running in this great-power competition, and success or failure will be measured in months, not years,” said Nasa administrator Jared Isaacman.Associate administrator Amit Kshatriya also said, “Today we are aligning Nasa around the mission. On the Moon, we are shifting to a focused, phased architecture that builds capability landing by landing, incrementally, and in alignment with our industrial and international partners. In low Earth orbit (LEO), we are recognizing where the market is and where it isn’t, recognizing the incredible value of the International Space Station, and building a transition that builds a competitive commercial ecosystem rather than forcing a single outcome the market cannot support. In our science missions, we are opening the lunar surface to researchers and students nationwide, and with Space Reactor-1 Freedom, we are finally putting nuclear propulsion on a trajectory out of the laboratory and into deep space. And this is all possible by investing in our people, bringing critical skills back into the agency, putting our teams where the machines are being built, and creating real pathways for the next generation of Nasa leaders. Our workforce is the jewel of Nasa, and from their leaders, they need clear mission goals, the tools to execute, and to get out of their way. This is what Ignition is about.”The centerpiece of the announcement was Nasa’s updated Moon strategy. The agency said the plan builds on earlier Artemis changes, including standardising the Space Launch System rocket, adding another mission in 2027, and targeting at least one lunar surface landing every year after that. Under that architecture, Artemis III, scheduled for 2027, will test integrated systems and operational capabilities in Earth orbit ahead of the Artemis IV lunar landing.Looking beyond Artemis V, Nasa said it will begin incorporating more commercially procured and reusable hardware to support more frequent and affordable crewed missions to the lunar surface. The agency said it is initially targeting landings every six months, with the possibility of increasing that pace as capabilities mature.
Base to be built in phases
As part of that effort, Nasa also announced a phased approach to building a Moon base aimed at creating an enduring human presence on the lunar surface. The agency said it intends to pause Gateway in its current form and instead focus on infrastructure that supports sustained surface operations. Nasa said applicable hardware will be repurposed and international partner commitments will be used to help advance those goals, with Requests for Information and draft Requests for Proposals to be released in the coming days.Nasa said the lunar base plan will unfold in three phases. The first phase, Build, Test, Learn, will use Commercial Lunar Payload Services deliveries and the Lunar Terrain Vehicle program to expand lunar activity through rovers, instruments, and technology demonstrations involving mobility, power generation, communications, navigation, surface operations, and science. The second phase, Establish Early Infrastructure, will introduce semi-habitable infrastructure and regular logistics to support recurring astronaut operations, while incorporating major international contributions such as JAXA’s pressurized rover. The third phase, Enable Long-Duration Human Presence, will rely on cargo-capable human landing systems to deliver heavier infrastructure for a continuous human foothold on the Moon, including ASI’s Multi-purpose Habitats and CSA’s Lunar Utility Vehicle.
Lunar science to expand with faster missions
Nasa said the lunar buildout will also open new science opportunities. With an accelerated CLPS cadence targeting up to 30 robotic landings beginning in 2027, the agency said it plans to speed up delivery of science and technology payloads to the lunar surface. These missions will include opportunities for rovers, hoppers, and drones, with contributions invited from industry, academia, and international partners. Near-term payloads include the VIPER rover and the LuSEE-Night mission.An RFI released March 24 will seek payloads that support Nasa’s science and technology goals for additional 2027 and 2028 flights, while also creating opportunities for students and researchers across the country to work on instruments for the Moon. Nasa said the same RFI will also seek payloads for future Mars missions, including the Mars Telecom Network and a nuclear technology demonstration mission.
ISS-linked LEO transition
Beyond the Moon, Nasa said it is reaffirming its commitment to low Earth orbit even as it plans for the eventual end of the International Space Station. The agency said the station has supported more than 4,000 research investigations, more than 5,000 researchers, and visitors from 26 countries, but cannot operate indefinitely. Nasa said the transition to commercial stations must be deliberate and structured to support long-term industry success.To support that transition, Nasa said it is introducing an additional low Earth orbit strategy that would preserve current pathways while adding a phased, International Space Station-anchored approach. Under that concept, Nasa would procure a government-owned Core Module that would attach to the station, followed by commercial modules that would be tested using station capabilities and later detach into free flight. Once technical and operational capabilities mature and market demand is realized, the stations would separate and Nasa would become one of many customers purchasing commercial services. Nasa said it would also expand industry opportunities including private astronaut missions, commander seat sales, joint missions, multiple module competitions, and prize-based awards. An industry RFI is set to open Wednesday, March 25.
Nuclear propulsion mission set for Mars
In a separate major announcement, Nasa said it will launch Space Reactor-1 Freedom, described as the first nuclear powered interplanetary spacecraft, to Mars before the end of 2028 to demonstrate advanced nuclear electric propulsion in deep space. The agency said nuclear electric propulsion offers efficient mass transport in deep space and supports high-power missions beyond Jupiter, where solar arrays are not effective.Nasa said that when SR-1 Freedom reaches Mars, it will deploy the Skyfall payload of Ingenuity-class helicopters to continue exploring the planet. According to the agency, the mission will establish flight heritage nuclear hardware, set regulatory and launch precedent, and help activate the industrial base for future fission power systems across propulsion, surface operations, and long-duration missions.Nasa said the initiatives will also rely on rebuilding agency capabilities. The agency said it is restoring core competencies, converting thousands of contractor positions to civil service, and strengthening its engineering, technical, and operational base. Nasa also said it is expanding opportunities for interns and early-career professionals and, in partnership with the U.S. Office of Personnel Management and Nasa Force, creating new pathways for experienced industry talent through term-based appointments.The changes announced on Tuesday will be implemented over the coming months, Nasa said, as teams across the agency work to maintain key programs and partnerships. The agency also said it will embed subject-matter experts across the supply chain, including at major vendors, subcontractors, and critical-path component providers, to challenge assumptions, solve problems, accelerate production, and help ensure the right outcomes are achieved.
