NASA chief tells UCF students they could help build a moon base

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman told UCF students Friday that the agency’s next big goal is not simply returning astronauts to the moon. It is building the workforce and technology for a lasting presence there.“We are going back to the moon,” Isaacman said, drawing applause at the FAIRWINDS Alumni Center. “We aren’t just going for the flags and footprints.”Isaacman said NASA plans to build toward a moon base through repeated robotic missions, testing landers, rovers and other equipment before astronauts begin staying on the lunar surface for longer periods. He said the first mission in that effort, carrying an uncrewed lander and the FLIP rover, is expected in January, with missions eventually reaching a near-monthly pace.“We didn’t just jump to Apollo 11,” he said. “We had the Mercury program, Gemini program and a lot of Apollo missions before the Eagle ultimately landed. We need to do the same thing.”The approach, Isaacman said, would draw on 26 years of experience operating the In