2026.02.04 | Ensuring American Space Superiority: A New U.S. Space Policy Directive

On The Space Show for Wednesday, 4 February 2026: The Space Show is in conversation with Angelo Di Grazia, a Committee member of the ⁠Space Association of Australia⁠. ******* Space Show News — The Artemis II launch has been delayed by at least one month due to a hydrogen leak during a wet dress rehearsal. ******* Ensuring American Space Superiority: A new U.S. space policy directive — On 18 December 2025, President Trump signed an executive order entitled Ensuring American Space Superiority – essentially the new cornerstone of U.S. National Space Policy. Key highlights: ​Moon missions accelerated — Americans back on the lunar surface by 2028 (with Artemis), with the first pieces of a permanent lunar outpost established by 2030. ​Space nuclear power push — Deploy reactors in orbit and on the Moon, including a surface reactor launch-ready by 2030. ​National security focus — Build next-gen missile defence tech (including space-based) by 2028, develop strategies to detect/counter threats (even nuclear weapons in orbit) all the way out to cislunar space, and make the military space architecture more resilient and commercial-friendly. ​Commercial boom — Aim to pull in an extra 50 billion dollars of private investment by 2028, ramp up launch cadence, replace the ISS with private stations by 2030, and reform acquisitions to favour fast, commercial solutions. ​Organisational changes — Revokes the old executive order re-establishing the National Space Council (first Trump administration/Biden administration), shifts coordination to the President's science advisor, and tweaks older policies on space traffic management.

******* A word from the new NASA Administrator, Jared Isaacman — On 19 December 2025, the newly appointed NASA Administrator addressed the agency's staff about his vision for the future of NASA and answered questions from members of the workforce.