President Donald Trump delivered a lengthy State of the Union address on February 24, 2024, highlighting the United States’ global leadership. However, he notably neglected to mention NASA’s upcoming Artemis 2 mission, which aims to send astronauts to the Moon for the first time in over 50 years. The omission is striking, especially considering that the Artemis 2 astronaut crew attended the address as guests of Mike Johnson, the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
The speech, which lasted more than 107 minutes, set a record for its length, surpassing Trump’s previous record by eight minutes. While the president enthusiastically praised the U.S. Space Force, which he referred to as “my baby,” he failed to acknowledge the significance of Artemis 2. This mission is scheduled to launch four astronauts around the Moon as early as April 1, marking the first crewed flight beyond low Earth orbit since Apollo 17 in 1972.
Trump’s comments on the Space Force came approximately 90 minutes into his address. He stated, “This is a different fighting force than we had years ago, when we fought to tie… The Space Force is becoming so important.” He also referenced the military’s role in capturing Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro during a mission known as Operation Absolute Resolve.
The only other mention of space in the address occurred towards the end when Trump reflected on America’s achievements over the past 250 years. He remarked, “Americans lifted humanity into the skies on the wings of aluminum and steel, and then we launched mankind into the stars on rockets powered by sheer American will and unyielding American pride.” Yet, he concluded without discussing the Artemis 2 mission, which aims to establish a sustainable presence on the Moon.
The absence of a mention of Artemis 2 is particularly notable given the presence of astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen at the event. The Artemis program, initiated in December 2017 during Trump’s first term, aims to create lunar bases in the coming years. Despite ambitious timelines set by Trump for a lunar landing by late 2024, the program has faced numerous delays, including a recent setback announced just days before the address.
NASA had been preparing to launch Artemis 2 on March 6, but a technical issue with the Space Launch System rocket necessitated troubleshooting, delaying the launch to April 1 at the earliest. In the lead-up to the mission, the Artemis 2 crew began quarantine preparations, although they were briefly released from it prior to the address.
During the broadcast, the only astronaut visible was U.S. Senator Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), a former NASA astronaut who has previously flown four space shuttle missions. Notably, Kelly has recently faced censure from the Trump administration for his participation in a video encouraging military personnel to resist unlawful orders.
In comparison, last year’s State of the Union had a more pronounced focus on space, with Trump asserting that Americans would “pursue our manifest destiny into the stars.” The contrast in emphasis on space exploration this year raises questions about the administration’s current priorities in the realm of space policy.
As the Artemis program progresses and the Space Force continues to evolve, the omission of such a significant mission from the address could indicate shifting focuses in U.S. space initiatives. With the upcoming Artemis 2 launch, many will be watching closely to see how these developments unfold in the coming months.
