Green light to return to the Moon: US Congress backs NASA's Artemis program

The US Congress has approved a bill to continue NASA's Artemis program , a vital decision for the US agency because the Trump administration announced, in early May, a series of cuts to its space programs .

The measure received bipartisan support despite opposition from influential figures in the aerospace field , including SpaceX CEO Elon Musk and former NASA chief Jared Isaacman .

As TechCrunch reports, the controversy arose from alternatives proposed by the tech mogul, who argued that NASA should focus its efforts on missions to Mars, but using its own systems, such as SpaceX's Starship. Musk also publicly criticized the use of the NASA-developed SLS ( Space Launch System ) rocket and the Orion spacecraft, arguing that they are less efficient and more expensive than emerging private technologies.

However, Congress rejected these proposals, emphasizing the importance of maintaining investment in the SLS rocket and the Orion spacecraft for reasons of security, technological sovereignty, and industrial employment in various states. Several lawmakers also expressed concern about the potential weakening of U.S. leadership in space if the lunar plans are abandoned, especially given China's significant progress in its lunar program .

NASA's Artemis program gains momentum

The bill maintains the focus of the Artemis program, which seeks to establish a sustainable human presence on the Moon, as NASA's most ambitious lunar project since the Apollo missions. However, while the program was already funded, Congressional approval ensures a significant expansion of its budget and ensures the continuity of its roadmap , including the Artemis II manned mission planned for 2026 .

On the other hand, this approval contemplates an additional investment of up to $10 billion to accelerate the development of lunar infrastructure, landers, and life support systems—despite the recent explosion of the SLS rocket engine during a test firing .

Furthermore, it's important to mention that this decision by the United States Congress cements a clear path for a human return to the Moon, and even strengthens the United States' position in the global competition for space supremacy.

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