Jeff Williams, currently visiting the Republic of Moldova, said that he does not expect humans to establish a permanent presence on the Moon in the near future, but rather short-term stays.
“I do not foresee a permanent presence, but rather short-term stays, in a semi-permanent regime, within the next 8–10 years,” he told IPN.
The astronaut also noted that NASA is preparing to launch the first crewed mission to the Moon after more than 55 years.
Asked whether space exploration represents a competition or an area of cooperation, Williams emphasized that science and politics are closely interconnected.
“There are scientific objectives, but they depend on political will,” he said.
He added that space exploration is a natural continuation of humanity’s long-standing drive to explore, describing it as another chapter in the broader history of human discovery.