President Donald Trump Sets NASA Goal of Landing Americans on Mars by 2033
As part of President Donald Trump’s continued “Make America Great Again” promise, he has now signed a the NASA Transition Authorization Act which grants NASA $19.5 billion in funding for fiscal year 2018. The US president has has also asked the space agency to create a plan to send a crewed mission to Mars by year 2033.
The bill was authored and sponsored by President Trump’s former Republican nominee rivals Senator Marco Rubio (R-Florida) and Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas), who were also present at the Oval office for the signing.
Part of the bill requires NASA to push for off-world colonization and expansion of American economy into space, citing the extension of “human presence, including potential human habitation on another celestial body”. The bill is the first time in over seven years that a long-term future for NASA has been mapped out by the US government.
Honored to sign S.442 today. With this legislation, we support @NASA's scientists, engineers, and astronauts in their pursuit of discovery! pic.twitter.com/9W37qQ0GVf
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 21, 2017
The president gladly tweeted out that he is “delighted to sign this bill reaffirming (the US) national commitment to the core mission of NASA: human space exploration, space science, and technology.”
NASA acting Administrator Robert Lightfoot was also glad for the bill signing and released the following statement:
“We would like to thank President Trump for his support of the agency in signing the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Transition Authorization Act of 2017.
We also want to express our gratitude to a bipartisan Congress for its thoughtful consideration of the agency’s path forward. We are grateful for the longstanding support and trust of the American people, which enables our nation’s space, aeronautics, science, and technology development programs to thrive.
Our workforce has proven time and again that it can meet any challenge, and the continuing support for NASA ensures our nation’s space program will remain the world’s leader in pioneering new frontiers in exploration, innovation, and scientific achievement.”
The 146-page bill can be viewed in its entirety over at the official U.S. Congress Website.
