White House vows America will not give up the moon

The White House posted on X that "America will never give up the moon" as NASA advances plans for a permanent lunar base while the Artemis II circumnavigation proceeds.

The White House posted a message on the X network declaring that "America will never give up the moon" as NASA proceeds with the Artemis II circumnavigation. The article reports that the administration intends to follow that statement with long-term plans to establish a permanent lunar base. Supporters and officials quoted in the piece emphasize strategic, scientific and cooperative international aims. The article also places the announcement in historical context by noting the winding down of the Apollo program in the 1970s and subsequent delays in sustained lunar presence. Key facts: - The White House posted on X the message "America will never give up the moon," according to the article. - NASA is advancing plans for a permanent lunar base and is conducting the Artemis II mission, a crewed circumnavigation of the moon. - The article cites a quoted implementation figure of about $20 billion over seven years and a target of people living and working on the moon by around 2033. - Sen. Ted Cruz is quoted saying a sustained lunar presence is strategic and should ensure U.S. leadership; the Mars Society and the Italian Space Agency are also cited as expressing support. - The Artemis II crew named in the article are Reid Wiseman (commander), Victor Glover (pilot), Christina Koch (mission specialist) and Jeremy Hansen (mission specialist). Summary: The public statement and NASA's plans signal an intent to build and sustain a U.S. presence on the moon, linking near-term missions to longer-term goals for lunar and Mars exploration. The article frames cost estimates and international partnerships as central to that effort, and it says execution and timing will depend on mission outcomes and collaboration. Undetermined at this time.