United States President Donald Trump has signed a presidential memorandum ordering federal agencies to increase the number of annual space flights to 1,000 by 2030.
The White House announced the decision as the national debt of the United States reached a new record high of more than 40 trillion dollars, according to a report by news agency RIA Novosti.
Under the signed document, the administration plans to build reliable, affordable and modern access to space transportation. The directive orders federal bodies to work alongside the private sector to stimulate the development of space transport infrastructure.
Expansion of space infrastructure and space missions
According to the document, relevant departments must identify locations for additional space transportation infrastructure. This includes establishing extra launch sites and recovery locations for spacecraft.
Under the order signed by Trump, the head of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration must promote the development of commercial transportation services to and from the Moon. The directive also requires the agency to ensure access to Mars using robotic spacecraft.
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration, commonly known as NASA, is the United States federal agency responsible for civilian space exploration and aeronautical research. In recent years, American space policy has increasingly relied on private aerospace partnerships to expand orbital transport capacity and support planetary research.
US national debt milestones and debt ceiling limits
The announcement comes as official financial records show national debt reaching a record total of 40 trillion 47 billion dollars as of August 18.
The legally established ceiling on United States national debt currently stands at 41 trillion 103 billion dollars. Federal borrowing increased by one trillion dollars in just five months, having previously reached 39 trillion dollars in March 2026.
The United States debt ceiling is a statutory limit set by Congress that restricts the total amount of money the federal government is authorized to borrow to meet its legal obligations.
Global economic warnings and IMF projections
Financial experts previously warned that the growing national debt of the United States could push up borrowing costs and make credit more expensive around the world.
Long-term forecasts from the International Monetary Fund indicate that United States national debt will rise to 142 percent of gross domestic product by 2031.
The International Monetary Fund is an international organization of 190 member countries based in Washington, D.C., that monitors financial stability and macroeconomic developments worldwide.
