Shooting for the Moon—and Beyond

April 15, 2026

Following its Artemis II lunar-looping mission, NASA is preparing the next steps aimed at landing humans back on the Moon, the AP reports. In Issues, Brian Babin details why the United States “must remain the world’s leading spacefaring nation,” declaring that “the nation that arrives first does more than plant a flag—it establishes norms, expectations, and long-term influence.” As chair of the US House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, he argues that success will require government and the private sector to jointly pursue a “coherent national approach that aligns civil exploration, commercial growth, and long-term competitiveness.”

Posted by Tom Burroughs