Key Takeaways
- The United States must pursue a space policy that extends the reach of human discovery, secures the Nation’s vital economic and security interests, unleashes commercial development, and lays the foundation for a new space age.
- The Administration will focus its space policy on achieving priorities such as leading the world in space exploration, securing and defending American vital national and economic security interests in space, growing a vibrant commercial space economy, and developing and deploying advanced capabilities and approaches to enable the next century of space achievements.
- The Artemis Program aims to return Americans to the Moon by 2028 and establish initial elements of a permanent lunar outpost by 2030.
- The Administration will develop and demonstrate prototype next-generation missile defense technologies by 2028 and create a responsive and adaptive national security space architecture.
- The United States will assert spectrum leadership and strengthen ally and partner contributions to United States and collective space security.
Introduction to the Space Policy
The President of the United States has issued an executive order outlining the Nation’s space policy, which aims to extend the reach of human discovery, secure the Nation’s vital economic and security interests, unleash commercial development, and lay the foundation for a new space age. The policy is designed to ensure the United States remains a leader in space exploration and development, while also promoting commercial growth and national security.
Leading the World in Space Exploration
The Administration will focus on achieving several priorities, including leading the world in space exploration and expanding human reach and American presence in space. This will be accomplished through the Artemis Program, which aims to return Americans to the Moon by 2028 and establish initial elements of a permanent lunar outpost by 2030. The program will also prepare for the journey to Mars and inspire the next generation of American explorers. Additionally, the Administration will enhance sustainability and cost-effectiveness of launch and exploration architectures, including enabling commercial launch services and prioritizing lunar exploration.
Securing and Defending American Interests in Space
The Administration will also prioritize securing and defending American vital national and economic security interests in, from, and to space. This will be achieved by developing and demonstrating prototype next-generation missile defense technologies by 2028 and creating a responsive and adaptive national security space architecture. The Administration will also ensure the ability to detect, characterize, and counter threats to United States space interests from very low-Earth orbit and through cislunar space, including any placement of nuclear weapons in space.
Growing a Vibrant Commercial Space Economy
The Administration will focus on growing a vibrant commercial space economy through the power of American free enterprise. This will be accomplished by fostering economic growth, attracting at least $50 billion of additional investment in American space markets by 2028, and increasing launch and reentry cadence through new and upgraded facilities, improved efficiency, and policy reforms. The Administration will also demonstrate spectrum leadership across space applications to promote United States technology competitiveness, spectrum management efficiency, and global market access.
Developing and Deploying Advanced Capabilities
The Administration will also prioritize developing and deploying advanced capabilities and approaches to enable the next century of space achievements. This will be achieved by optimizing space research-and-development investments, enabling near-term utilization of space nuclear power, and improving high-value space and Earth weather forecasting and operations. The Administration will also enable the sustainability of space operations through effective and responsible approaches to space traffic management, orbital debris mitigation and remediation, and terrestrial and cislunar positioning, navigation, and timing.
Implementation of the Space Policy
The Assistant to the President for Science and Technology will coordinate the overall implementation of this order, including issuing guidance on establishing a National Initiative for American Space Nuclear Power and proposing revisions to Presidential Policy Directive 26. The Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration will develop a plan for achieving the policy objectives in this order regarding leading the world in space exploration and expanding human reach and American presence in space. The Secretary of Commerce and the Administrator of NASA will reform their respective agency’s space acquisition processes to support the space priorities in this order.
Rescission and Definitions
This order supersedes Executive Order 14056 of December 1, 2021, which is hereby revoked. Space Policy Directive 3 of June 18, 2018, is hereby revised to replace "free of direct user fees" with "for commercial and other relevant use" in subsections 3(b) and 4(d). The term "commercial solutions" means any of the methods for procurement of a commercial product or service described in part 12 of the Federal Acquisition Regulation, or other industry solutions funded by private investment that meet agency needs. The term "Other Transactions Authority" means the ability of the United States Government to enter into contracts other than standard contracts, grants, or cooperative agreements.
General Provisions
Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof. This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations. This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person. The costs for publication of this order shall be borne by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.