NASA Is Launching Astronauts to the Moon, but Americans Aren’t That Excited
nytimes.com • • science
Key Points:
- U.S. political leaders, including Senator Ted Cruz, emphasize the urgency of NASA astronauts returning to the moon to compete with China in a new space race.
- Despite the political focus, public opinion may not prioritize manned lunar missions as highly as policymakers do.
- NASA is preparing to launch Artemis II, a mission sending four astronauts to the moon for the first time in over 50 years, signaling renewed lunar exploration efforts.
- In December, former President Trump signed an executive order aiming to return Americans to the moon by 2028 and establish a permanent lunar base by 2030.
