Trump's new NASA boss says he will build a base on the Moon

NASA administrator Isaacman told Fox Business he intends to return humans to the Moon and build a lunar base, and he referenced Artemis II and plans for nuclear propulsion to support future missions.

Isaacman spoke about NASA's direction during an interview on Fox Business following a White House event he described as his first day in office. He framed his role as focused on the civil, peaceful side of U.S. space policy. He said returning to the Moon and establishing a sustained presence there is a core priority. He also discussed follow-on missions and propulsion research as part of longer-term goals. Key statements: - Isaacman said he was in the Oval Office as President Trump signed a new U.S. space policy and described that as part of his start in the role. - He stated that NASA will return to the Moon and "build a lunar base," describing a sustained presence rather than a brief visit. - He referred to Artemis II as the next mission, saying it will send four astronauts around the Moon and return them to Earth. - He mentioned plans to pursue nuclear propulsion for deeper space travel and cited Mars as a long-term objective. - He contrasted NASA's civil, exploratory mission with the role he described for Space Force in broader security and oversight. Summary: Isaacman's remarks present an emphasis on returning humans to the Moon and developing capabilities for a sustained lunar presence, with Artemis II and advanced propulsion cited as components of that agenda. The statements outline intended priorities and programs, while specific program schedules and approvals remain undetermined at this time.