In a major shake-up, Donald Trump is throwing his support—and $10 billion—behind NASA’s Artemis program, putting Moon missions ahead of Elon Musk’s Mars dreams.
For years, Musk and SpaceX have focused on colonizing Mars. But with Artemis aiming to return astronauts to the Moon by 2026, that mission is now front and center. The new funding, part of what’s been dubbed the “Big Beautiful Bill,” backs NASA’s costly Space Launch System (SLS), which Musk has criticized as outdated and inefficient.
The move marks a shift in U.S. space priorities and hints at growing distance between Trump and Musk. As Artemis gains momentum, Mars takes a backseat—at least for now.
