How Trump put America back in space, and what comes next

Published April 17, 2026 5:24am ET | Updated April 17, 2026 5:24am ET



The world is not short on bad news. Gas prices remain stubbornly elevated. Congress has lurched from one standoff to the next, the SAVE America Act is still grinding through the Senate, and a partial Department of Homeland Security shutdown is dragging into its fourth month. Overseas wars grind on. Americans looking for something to feel good about have had to look hard. On April 1, we were given reason to look up.

Trusted reporting.Unlimited access.

Subscribe for full access to Washington Examiner coverage, expert political analysis, and subscriber-only journalism.

Get Unlimited Access

Already a member? Log in

Cancel anytime.