Trump signs executive order to bolster U.S. leadership in space

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday signed a sweeping executive order aimed at bolstering U.S. leadership in space, calling for Americans' return to the Moon by 2028.

The order -- "Ensuring American Space Superiority" -- sets "a bold vision" for "an America First space policy," seeking to ensure that the United States leads the world in space exploration, security and commerce, according to the White House.

This marks Trump's first major space policy in his second presidential term.

The order calls for Americans' return to the Moon by 2028, and the establishment of initial elements of a permanent lunar outpost by 2030. It also directs the deployment of nuclear reactors on the Moon and in orbit, including a lunar surface reactor ready for launch by 2030.

The order seeks to foster economic growth, attracting at least 50 billion U.S. dollars of additional investment in American space markets by 2028. It directs efforts to spur private sector initiative and a commercial pathway to replace the International Space Station by 2030.

On Wednesday, the U.S. Senate confirmed American billionaire entrepreneur and private astronaut Jared Isaacman, nominated by Trump, to be NASA's new administrator. Isaacman plans to give his first agency-wide address to NASA employees on Friday.