ISTANBUL

The US is on track to return to the moon and establish a permanent lunar base, with crewed missions planned annually from 2027 and a lunar landing targeted for 2028, NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said Thursday.

"We're returning to the moon, and we're going to stay, we're going to build a lunar base," Isaacman told Fox News, describing the Artemis II mission as the next step.

The mission will send four astronauts around the moon “in a matter of weeks” aboard a rocket generating 8.8 million pounds of thrust.

The Artemis II mission has faced delays after engineers identified an issue with the rocket’s helium system.

Isaacman said annual missions are planned beginning in 2027 leading up to the 2028 lunar landing, after which the US intends to maintain a permanent presence on the moon.

He also pointed to plans for nuclear power and propulsion in space as part of a longer-term vision that includes eventually sending astronauts to Mars, a goal US President Donald Trump has pledged to pursue.

“Someday you can see American astronauts plant the stars and stripes on Mars,” he said, referring to planting the US flag on the Red Planet.

NASA restructured its Artemis program in February, adding a 2027 test mission before the first crewed lunar landing under the program in 2028.