The Republican National Convention has come to a close in Milwaukee, but a key section in the party’s platform may have a more lasting impact than the recent attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump. Chapter 3 of the platform outlines the Republican Party’s stance on the economy, including innovation and space exploration.
A notable mention in the platform is the creation of a robust manufacturing industry in near-Earth orbit, as well as sending American astronauts back to the moon and onward to Mars. This is not the first time a major party has mentioned space exploration in its platform. As early as 1964, the Democratic Party platform included a statement on space exploration, emphasizing the importance of developing space technology for peaceful uses and encouraging private industry to increase its efforts in space research.
In contrast, the Republican language on space demonstrates how far the conversation has shifted. What was once seen as a far-fetched idea, such as going back to the moon and on to Mars, is now a serious policy goal. This change is largely attributed to the efforts of former President Trump, who launched the Artemis program and appointed then-Rep. Jim Bridenstine as NASA administrator to oversee it.
The Artemis program, which aims to send astronauts back to the moon and on to Mars, has gained bipartisan support, with President Joe Biden pledging to continue the program after Trump’s departure from office. The Republican platform’s endorsement of Artemis is not surprising, given the program’s significance as a signature accomplishment for Trump.
Two questions arise regarding the Republican platform’s space language. The first concerns the international aspect of Artemis, which is conspicuously absent from the platform. The Artemis Accords, an integral part of the program, are intended to include international cooperation, and NASA has already made agreements with other countries to include astronauts in future missions.
The second question is how the Democrats will react to the Republican platform’s space language. While both parties support space exploration, there is division within the Democratic Party on the issue. Senator Bernie Sanders, for example, has expressed concerns about the partnerships between NASA and private space companies, such as Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos. To maintain its claim as the party of the future, the Democrats may need to include their own endorsement of space exploration in their platform.
