--- title: "NASA Head: “This Time, When We Go to the Moon, We Will Stay.”" description: "NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine published a bold essay  outlining the space agency's plan to return astronauts to the Moon." date: "2019-02-09" modified: "2019-02-09" authors: - name: "Jon Christian" job_title: "Executive Editor" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/jonc" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/nasa-head-moon-stay" categories: - "Astronomy" - "Moon" - "NASA" - "Space" tags: - "gateway" - "moon" - "NASA" - "the digest" --- # NASA Head: “This Time, When We Go to the Moon, We Will Stay.” ![NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine published a bold essay  outlining the space agency's plan to return astronauts to the Moon.]() *\Image: NASA\* ## Moon Man NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine published a [bold essay]() yesterday in *Ozy* outlining the space agency's plan to return astronauts to the Moon — and laying out a bold vision for humanity's future beyond Earth. "We are going to the moon with innovative new technologies and systems to explore more locations across the surface than we ever thought possible," Bridenstine wrote. "This time, when we go to the moon, we will stay." ## Lunar Outpost According to Bridenstine, America's return to the moon will hinge on the Lunar Gateway, an orbiting lunar outpost that will serve as the first reusable lunar lander system for astronauts. In realizing that vision, Bridenstine emphasized the role he foresees for private spacetech ventures. NASA is currently working with nine American companies on commercial deliveries of cargo to the moon and on the Gateway project, he said. ## Proving Ground Two thirds of Americans alive today, Bridenstine pointed out, weren't alive during the last Moon landings — including Bridenstine himself. But he emphasized that NASA's next foray to the Moon won't be a redux of those missions. Astronauts will venture farther onto the lunar surface and conduct new research. The missions will also, according to Bridenstine, serve as a proving ground for technologies that will take Earthlings even farther into the reaches of space. "Following a buildup of capabilities, our goal is to land astronauts on the moon within the next decade," he wrote. "Billions of people around the world will watch history being made as astronauts explore more of the surface for longer periods of time than ever before, and help us prepare for missions to Mars and other destinations." **READ MORE:** [NASA: Join Us in Going to the Moon... And Beyond]() \[*Ozy*\] ***More on the Moon:** [Elon Musk’s New Goal: “Reach the Moon as Fast as Possible”]()* ## Author I'm responsible for editing, assigning, and scouting at Futurism, as well as occasionally writing for the site. That work involves keeping an eye on a wide range of narratives and issues, but over the past few years I've become increasingly interested in how AI is shaping the future of media, the web, and information itself. My day-to-day often involves collaborating on reporting and commentary projects bylined by my colleagues, but I try to find time to do my own reporting as well; stories I've broken for Futurism have been cited by publications including the New York Times, the Washington Post, the New Yorker, Wired, Ars Technica, New York Magazine, the Columbia Journalism Review, Bloomberg, and more. I grew up in Southern Vermont and attended Vanderbilt University. Prior to Futurism, I contributed to outlets including the Boston Globe, Vice, Wired, Slate, the Atlantic, the Outline, Ars Technica and more, and did stints in farming and food service. I currently live in Brooklyn, New York, and in my free time I enjoy pinball, word games, cycling, running, and music production. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()