The journey toward 2040 will bear little resemblance to the race that culminated in 1969; this time, private companies, entrepreneurs, and problem-solvers will lay the groundwork with far less federal support than during our first voyage to the Moon. Meeting this reality demands investments that ignite innovation and generate continuous economic value along the way, and by funding solutions to clearly defined gaps and challenges—rather than abstract “good ideas”—we incentivize industry to chart the roadmap first, remain mission-focused, and develop technologies tightly linked to measurable outcomes.