The U.S. Congress has just approved a budget of $24.44 billion for NASA for fiscal year 2026. This figure is the same as the previous year but $5.63 billion higher than the White House's initial request—indicating that Congress still places significant importance on space projects.

How will the money be spent? Of that, $7.78 billion is allocated to the Artemis lunar landing program, and $7.25 billion is dedicated to restoring scientific projects. These are the key focuses.

The Artemis schedule has already been laid out. Phase One was completed in 2024. Phase Two is planned to launch before April, with astronauts aboard the SLS rocket and Orion spacecraft for a lunar flyby, but not landing for now. The real big move is Phase Three—aiming for a crewed lunar landing in 2028, which is a hard milestone.

Phase Four plans to establish a long-term base on the Moon and also aims to harvest helium-3 resources. However, the government once proposed to cut the SLS rocket and Orion spacecraft projects after Phase Three and switch to a new plan. If that happens, the prospects for Phase Four become uncertain.

But based on current attitudes, the lunar landing schedule for 2028 is essentially set in stone. This is not just a scientific mission but also a matter of national strategy. Space competition is becoming increasingly fierce—whoever gains control of lunar resources first will hold the chips for the future. From technological validation to commercial applications, every step is advancing humanity’s space dreams.