US Going Back to the Moon in 2026—Sean Duffy Explains Why

Buckle up, space cadets: NASA’s acting boss Sean Duffy (yes, the Transportation Secretary moonlighting as moon man) dropped on a podcast that Artemis II blasts off as early as February 2026—four astronauts looping the Moon for the first time since disco was king. It’s not just nostalgia; it’s a geopolitical cage match with China, who Duffy says we can’t let “cede the Moon” without risking national security black eyes. Think Helium-3 mining, permanent bases by 2030, and SpaceX revolutionizing the ride. Duffy’s hyping it before Trump’s term ends, because nothing says “America First” like planting flags where no WiFi roams.