A Stunning Policy Reversal
Donald Trump just made a major shift in space policyโand itโs hitting Elon Musk where it hurts. The former president, once a vocal supporter of Mars exploration, has now signed off on aย $10 billion investmentย in NASAโsย Artemis program. The move diverts resources away from Mars and toward returning humans to the Moonโsomething Musk has openly opposed.
Muskโs Mars Mission Put on Ice
For over a decade, Musk has made it clear:ย getting to Mars is his ultimate goal. Through SpaceX, heโs worked tirelessly to make human colonization of the red planet a reality. NASA, too, had once shared that long-term vision.
When Trump was elected, Musk was thrilled. At the time, Trump expressed strong interest in Mars exploration, even echoing Muskโs enthusiasm at his inauguration. But the recentย โBig Beautiful Billโ marks a clear U-turn.
Whatโs the $10 Billion For?
As reported byย The Daily Mail, the bill injectsย $10 billionย into NASAโs Artemis initiative. The goal? Send astronauts back to theย Moonย for the first time in over 50 yearsโand establish aย permanent lunar base by decadeโs end.
The decision comes after Trump previously backedย cuts to NASA, especially targeting the veryย Space Launch System (SLS)ย that will now power Artemis missions. The reversal raises eyebrowsโespecially amid Trumpโsย public feud with Musk.
Why Musk Opposes Artemis
Musk has two main issues with the Artemis program:
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NASAโs use of SLS: Unlike SpaceXโsย reusable rockets, the SLS isย single-useย and far more expensive. Musk argues it drains NASAโs budget and sidelines more innovative private solutionsโnamely, his own.
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Shift in priorities: Artemis focuses heavily on theย Moon, pushingย Mars colonizationย further down NASAโs to-do list. Musk sees this as a major setback for humanityโs future in space.
A Costly Distraction?
Musk didnโt mince words last year. He called Artemisย โextremely inefficientโย and labeled it aย โjobs-maximizing program, not a results-maximizing one.โ
To him, the Moon is a โdistraction,โ not the goal. The latest funding decision only confirms his fears.
Mars Left Waiting
With Artemis now in full swing, Muskโsย Mars dream may be on hold for years. Establishing a Moon base will dominate NASAโs agenda through the end of the decade. And without major government backing, SpaceX could find itself sidelined in the race to explore deeper space.