The United States accelerates its space military buildup: Trump sets the tone for "space superiority," followed by a $3.5 billion satellite order

The United States is promoting the largest military deployment in space since the Cold War. President Trump signed an executive order on Thursday, prioritizing manned lunar landings, establishing a lunar base, and space weapon defense, followed by the Pentagon announcing a $3.5 billion military satellite order, marking an unprecedented speed in integrating civilian space exploration with military strategy. The executive order titled "Ensuring America's Space Dominance" mandates a manned lunar landing by 2028, the establishment of a permanent lunar base by 2030, and requires the Pentagon and intelligence agencies to develop a space security strategy. Following the policy announcement, the U.S. Space Development Agency stated it has signed a $3.5 billion fixed-price contract with Lockheed Martin, L3Harris Technologies, Northrop Grumman, and Rocket Lab USA to procure 72 infrared satellites for missile warning, tracking, and defense systems. These satellites are planned to be launched into low Earth orbit by 2029, achieving near-continuous global coverage. 2028 Lunar Landing Goal The 2028 manned lunar landing goal set by Trump mirrors his 2019 directive for a 2024 lunar landing, both viewed by the industry as highly challenging. NASA's Space Launch System and SpaceX's Starship development and testing delays have repeatedly postponed the landing timeline. Notably, this goal was originally part of a plan set by NASA during the Obama administration. According to Reuters, the executive order requires "the initial elements for establishing a permanent lunar base by 2030," reinforcing NASA's existing goal of developing a long-term base using nuclear energy. The 2028 astronaut lunar landing will be the first mission under NASA's Artemis program, which aims to establish a long-term presence on the lunar surface. This goal heavily relies on the development progress of SpaceX's massive Starship lander, which has previously been criticized by former NASA acting administrators for slow progress. $3.5 Billion Military Satellite Network Formation The satellite order announced by the U.S. Space Force's Space Development Agency on Friday indicates that military space deployment is accelerating. Four defense suppliers each received fixed-price contracts for 18 spacecraft, with a total value of approximately $3.5 billion. The agency's acting director Gurpartap Sandhoo stated, the addition of these satellites will achieve near-continuous global coverage for missile warning and tracking, and will have the capability to generate fire control quality trajectories for missile defense. These satellites belong to the third tranche (Tranche-3), supporting the agency's goal of launching new batches every two years to update the satellite architecture. In September of this year, the first spacecraft from the first tranche was launched from California's Vandenberg Space Force Base via SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket. The agency plans to deploy a total of 154 operational spacecraft in the first tranche, achieving initial operational capability by 2027. Restructuring of Space Policy Coordination Mechanism Trump's executive order restructured the national space policy coordination mechanism, placing it under the leadership of the President's Chief Science Advisor Michael Kratsios. The fate of the National Space Council, the highest space policy coordination body in the White House composed of cabinet members, was once uncertain—this council was restored by Trump during his first term and was considered for cancellation this year However, according to a government official, the committee will not be disbanded but will continue to exist under a different structure within the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, with the chairperson changing from the Vice President to the President himself. The executive order also calls for the Pentagon and U.S. intelligence agencies to develop a space security strategy, urging private contractors to improve efficiency and seeking to showcase missile defense technology under Trump's "Golden Dome" initiative. NASA Budget Cuts and Dual Goals Despite the renewed focus on the Moon, NASA is facing financial pressure. In the government efficiency initiative led by Musk, the agency has cut its workforce by 20%, and the 2026 budget may be reduced by about 25% from the usual $25 billion, jeopardizing dozens of space science programs considered priorities by scientists and some officials. New Administrator Isaacman has previously stated that he believes NASA should aim for both the Moon and Mars simultaneously. This position reflects the pressure from Congress this year—lawmakers are gradually refocusing on the Moon, urging Isaacman to stick to the lunar program that has already seen billions of dollars in investment. In the early days of Trump's second term, the President repeatedly spoke about Mars missions, with major donor Musk—whose SpaceX company prioritizes sending humans to Mars—serving as a close advisor and powerful government efficiency director, but the intervention of lawmakers has shifted the policy focus back to the Moon