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Significance

Orion is intended to return astronauts to the moon by 2024, a goal Pence set in March. This programme, Artemis, is presented as a step towards commercial exploitation of the moon’s resources and a permanent presence there by 2028.

Impacts

Some sense of the still-speculative market potential of lunar and private, crewed spaceflight will emerge in the coming years.

Foreign institutions may get opportunities to partner with NASA, but will be wary of US plans that seem so volatile.

A successful landing in 2024 would give Pence a well-timed boost should he run for president that year.

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