Space Policy Directive 1

Space Policy Directive 1. It is a directive of the United States signed by President Donald Trump on December 11, 2017. The policy formally refocused American human spaceflight efforts toward a sustained lunar exploration campaign as a foundation for future missions to Mars. It directed the NASA Administrator to lead an innovative and sustainable program of exploration with commercial and international partners.

Background and context

The directive emerged during a period of renewed global interest in lunar exploration, with nations like China and Russia announcing their own ambitions. It effectively replaced the George W. Bush-era Vision for Space Exploration and the subsequent NASA Authorization Act of 2010, which had aimed for a human mission to an asteroid. The signing ceremony was held in the Oval Office and included key figures such as Buzz Aldrin and Harrison Schmitt, the latter being the last Apollo program astronaut to walk on the Moon. This shift in policy was championed by the re-established National Space Council, chaired by Vice President Mike Pence.

Key provisions and directives

The core instruction was for NASA to "lead an innovative and sustainable program of exploration with commercial and international partners to enable human expansion across the solar system." It explicitly called for a return to the Moon for long-term exploration and utilization, followed by human missions to Mars and other destinations. The directive mandated that NASA collaborate with other U.S. agencies, such as the Department of Defense and the Department of Energy, and leverage commercial capabilities. It also emphasized the goal of pursuing lunar orbital platforms, notably the Lunar Gateway, and the use of lunar resources.

Implementation and impact

NASA's response was the formulation of the Artemis program, named after the twin sister of Apollo in Greek mythology. This led to the development of the Space Launch System, the Orion (spacecraft), and the Commercial Lunar Payload Services initiative. The program established ambitious timelines, aiming for a human landing by 2024, a goal later adjusted. Key milestones included the uncrewed Artemis 1 test flight and contracts awarded to companies like SpaceX for the Starship HLS human landing system. The policy directly enabled new international agreements like the Artemis Accords.

Domestic and international reactions

The announcement was praised by members of the United States Congress from both parties, particularly those representing states with major NASA centers like Florida, Texas, and Alabama. Commercial aerospace companies, including Blue Origin and Lockheed Martin, expressed strong support for the new market opportunities. Internationally, traditional partners like the European Space Agency, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, and Canadian Space Agency quickly engaged in partnership discussions. However, some in the scientific community, including former NASA Administrator Michael Griffin, expressed concerns about budgetary sustainability and technical feasibility.

Relationship to other space policies

It is a cornerstone of the Trump administration's space policy, which also included Space Policy Directive 2 on regulatory reform and Space Policy Directive 3 on space traffic management. It stands in contrast to the Obama administration's emphasis on the "Journey to Mars" and the earlier asteroid redirect mission. The directive's principles were later reinforced and expanded by the Biden administration, which endorsed the Artemis program while adding broader scientific and climate goals. It also aligns with broader U.S. strategic documents like the National Security Strategy of the United States regarding cislunar leadership. Category:Space policy of the United States Category:2017 in spaceflight Category:Donald Trump administration