By contrast, his successor Joe Biden has beenrelatively quiet on space policy.
So how is space exploration likely to change going forward?
It is clear is that there will be change.
NASAs current chief, Jim Bridenstine, has alreadyannounced he is stepping down.
And we know that US human spaceflight policyrarely survives a changein the presidency.
This is due for its first test launch (uncrewed) next year withArtemis-1.
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The long journey would put astronauts at risk of high radiation exposure and psychological difficulties.
Other huge challenges include weight restrictions and communication times.
It is unlikely Biden will make a run at resurrect this any time soon.
The move highlights that the US views space as apotential war zonerather than a domain of purely scientific venture.
But US citizens arent too impressed with the Space Force, mocking thelogoand theuniforms.
Indeed, the program hasa public approval rating of only 31%.
So will it be scrapped?
It is therefore likely to stay, possibly with reduced focus.
A fresh start for NASA?
Can we expect anything new?
The biggest indication of change is Bridenstine stepping down.
Yet he has proved to bean able leaderof NASA.
On stepping down, he said he wanted to let somebody with aclose relationship with the presidenttake over.
Who this might be is still a question, and will depend largely on the new president himself.
The field is thought to be largely open, though.
Biden wants to tackle climate change.
Gage Skidmore/Flickr,CC BY-SA
Biden has made it clear that tackling the climate emergency is a priority.
All of these possibilities are of course overshadowed by the financial crisis due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Whatever the changes will be, it seems likely that there may be less funding for space missions.
