Writing for CNN, President Obama said the United States is partnering with private companies to send humans to Mars and back by the 2030s in a mission that will "make our lives better here on Earth."
“We have set a clear goal vital to the next chapter of America’s story in space: sending humans to Mars by the 2030s and returning them safely to Earth, with the ultimate ambition to one day remain there for an extended time. Getting to Mars will require continued cooperation between government and private innovators, and we’re already well on our way. Within the next two years, private companies will for the first time send astronauts to the International Space Station,” Obama said.
“The next step is to reach beyond the bounds of Earth’s orbit. I’m excited to announce that we are working with our commercial partners to build new habitats that can sustain and transport astronauts on long-duration missions in deep space. These missions will teach us how humans can live far from Earth -- something we’ll need for the long journey to Mars.”
More than 1,000 companies in the US are working on space-related initiatives, Obama said.
Obama will attend a Frontiers Conference on science and technology on Thursday in Pittsburgh.
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