NASA announces new Mars mission, reshapes goals on the moon
By Jackie Wattles
Published on March 24, 2026.
NASA's new chief, Jared Isaacman, has unveiled a vision for the space agency's goals, including a new Mars mission and a revamped plan for a moon base. The announcement was made at an Ignition event in Washington, D.C. and marked the first time NASA has revealed a timeline and road map for such efforts. The agency plans to invest approximately $20 billion over the next seven years and build the lunar base through various missions. Other projects announced include a new nuclear-powered Mars vehicle, which the agency hopes to launch by 2028, and a new mission that's effectively a precursor to the next astronaut moon landing. Among the announcements, NASA will also pause plans to develop a space station to orbit the moon, which was intended to support trips to the lunar surface and destinations, and use existing resources to use in other ways. Isaacman has been working to implement bold changes, including hiring workers and bolstering NASA’s core competencies, and increasing the number of robotic landers to the moon.
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