# U.S. commercial space and lunar exploration policy > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/us-commercial-space-and-lunar-exploration-policy > Updated: 2026-08-20T23:51:58.000Z. Sources: 10. Developments: 2. The United States has initiated a series of policy shifts aimed at accelerating commercial space activity and lunar exploration. Initially, the Department of Transportation proposed exempting commercial space launch licensing from various federal environmental statutes, such as the Clean Air Act and the Endangered Species Act, to increase competition with China. During this period, NASA also began evaluating the use of a full-scale Perseverance rover test model for lunar missions to establish a presence at the Moon’s south pole. President Donald Trump has since formalized these objectives through a national space transportation policy memo. This policy sets an ambitious target of at least 1,000 annual space launches and re-entries by 2030, representing a significant increase from the 178 launches recorded in 2025. To support this growth, the administration is directing agencies to incentivize the co-development of space infrastructure with private partners and to ensure sufficient wireless spectrum for operations. The strategy emphasizes a ‘commercial-first approach’ to prevent government activities from competing with or discouraging private providers, except when necessary for national or public safety. Specific mandates include identifying a new federal re-entry site within 90 days and locating federal land for new launch and landing sites. NASA is tasked with facilitating commercial transportation to the Moon and robotic access to Mars, with the overarching goals of returning U.S. astronauts to the Moon by 2028 and establishing initial Moon base elements by 2030. ## Claims - The White House aims to enable at least 1,000 annual space launches and re-entries by 2030. (corroborated by 8 sources) - The administration intends to return U.S. astronauts to the moon by 2028. (corroborated by 6 sources) - A new federal re-entry site must be identified within 90 days. (corroborated by 6 sources) - NASA is directed to facilitate commercial transportation to the moon and robotic access to Mars. (corroborated by 6 sources) - President Donald Trump signed a memo to increase U.S. commercial space launches. (corroborated by 5 sources) - Government agencies are directed to identify federal land for new space launch and re-entry sites. (corroborated by 5 sources) - Government agencies are instructed to avoid space activities that compete with or discourage commercial space transportation. (corroborated by 5 sources) - SpaceX conducted 170 launches in 2025. (corroborated by 2 sources) ## Timeline ### 2026-08-20: Trump signs memo to boost U.S. commercial space launches President Trump signed a memo to boost U.S. commercial space launches, targeting 1,000 annual missions by 2030 and returning astronauts to the moon by 2028 through private-sector partnerships. 10 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/trump-signs-memo-to-boost-us-commercial-space-launches ### 2026-07-27: U.S. Space Policy Pushes Ahead with Regulation Rollback and Lunar Rover Plan The U.S. plans to roll back environmental rules for commercial space launches while NASA eyes a nuclear‑powered rover derived from Perseverance for a lunar south‑pole mission. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/us-space-policy-pushes-ahead-with-regulation-rollback-and-lunar-rover-plan --- Cite as: U.S. commercial space and lunar exploration policy. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/us-commercial-space-and-lunar-exploration-policy