With eyes on future NASA moon base, Space Force launches cislunar acquisition task force

Key Points:

• The U.S. Space Force is establishing a Cislunar Coordination Office to develop technology acquisition roadmaps and schedules supporting a permanent lunar outpost by 2030, aligning with President Trump's December Executive Order on space superiority.
• The new office will coordinate efforts among multiple government agencies, including NASA, DARPA, AFRL, and the Director of National Intelligence, while also partnering with industry to advance cislunar capabilities.
• Space Force leadership emphasized the need for enhanced space domain awareness, secure communications, and increased launch operations tempo to sustain lunar presence and ensure safety and infrastructure readiness.
• The Air Force Research Laboratory plans to launch Oracle Prime, the first satellite to conduct sustained surveillance from the Earth-Moon L1 Lagrange Point, aiming to improve situational awareness of cislunar space objects including foreign satellites.
• Oracle Prime, built by Advanced Space and partners but government-owned, will support long-term cislunar operations, complementing NASA’s Artemis program which is progressing toward a crewed lunar landing planned for 2028.