The U.S. is preparing to return a manned crew to the moon for the first time in 50 years, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced Wednesday.
Serving also as Acting Director of NASA, Duffy revealed that a four-person team will undertake a 2026 mission to establish the groundwork for a U.S. forward operating base, with the expedition expected to last eight to 12 days.
Duffy framed the mission as part of the “second space race,” highlighting competition with China.
“The U.S. comes in peace. We want to win the second space race to the moon, but we know that China wants to get there before us,” he said during an appearance on Fox News.
The Artemis III mission will involve orbiting the moon before landing, with astronauts remaining on the surface for a significantly longer period than previous missions, which lasted no more than three days.
The mission will also begin sending payloads to the moon to support the creation of a permanent U.S. base camp.
According to Duffy, these lunar missions are intended as a stepping-stone for future manned missions to Mars, projected to take place within the next decade.
“What we learn on the mission to the moon is gonna be critical to make sure we can sustain life,” he explained.
Senate Republicans, including Ted Cruz (R-TX), emphasized the importance of maintaining U.S. leadership in space exploration.
Lawmakers pressed former NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine and other experts on the need for a Gateway space station and sustained activity in low-Earth orbit to preserve technological and strategic advantage.
Experts also warned that delays in the Artemis program could jeopardize U.S. partnerships with private-sector suppliers and international allies, potentially shifting technological and financial support toward China, according to Trending Politics.
Public reaction on X highlighted widespread skepticism, often rooted in long-running moon-landing conspiracy theories.
Some users expressed excitement about the new mission, but many questioned whether the U.S. ever truly landed on the moon in the 1960s.
“We never went the first time,” one user wrote, while another added, “When they say ‘return’ to the moon, I already know it’s a lie.”
Sarcastic commentary further underscored disbelief, including remarks such as, “I wonder who the director of this movie will be” and “By moon you mean that little island up in Canada?”
Other users linked the mission to past conspiracies and cultural references, with one noting, “The same playbook that got people up at 1 a.m. to watch a pre-produced TV show in the 1960s,” and another asking, “You mean go to the moon. From what I understand we haven’t been yet?!”
While social media debate continues, NASA officials insist the Artemis missions reflect a renewed focus on establishing a long-term U.S. presence beyond Earth orbit.
Duffy emphasized that these lunar expeditions will provide critical data and technology needed for future exploration of Mars and potentially other deep-space destinations.
“We’re not gonna let anyone beat us to the moon,” he said, reiterating the strategic importance of the program.
The Artemis missions are set to mark a historic return to the moon, and public interest is expected to be as intense as the mission itself, with a mix of excitement and debate.
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