Trump plans man on Mars by 2030s

US President Donald Trump has signed a new bill authorising nearly $20 billion for Nasa programmes, that include human exploration of the red planet.

The Nasa Transition Authorisation Act gives the agency $19.5 billion for 2018. The legislation also asks it to chalk out a plan to send a “crewed mission to Mars in the 2030s.”

Flanked by vice-president Mike Pence, Mr Trump signed the bill in his Oval Office, and with that he opened a new vista in the quest for human exploration of the space.

“For almost six decades Nasa’s work has inspired millions and millions of Americans to imagine distant worlds... It’s been a long time since a bill like this has been signed, reaffirming our commitment to Nasa,” Mr Trump said.

Washington, March 22: President Donald Trump signed a nearly $20-billion legislation Tuesday for Nasa’s programme, inclding human exploration of Mars. Could sending Congress into space be next? Flanked at an Oval Office bill-signing ceremony by astronauts and lawmakers, Trump observed being an astronaut is a “pretty tough job.” He said he wasn’t sure he’d want it and, among lawmakers he put the question to, senator Ted Cruz said he wouldn’t want to be a space traveller either.

But Cruz offered up a tantalising suggestion. “You could send Congress to space,” he said to laughter, including from the president. Trump readily agreed. “What a great idea that could be,” Trump said, before turning back to the space exploration measure sponsored by Cruz and Sen. Bill Nelson.

“For almost six decades, Nasa’s work has inspired millions and millions of Americans to imagine distant worlds and a better future right here on earth,” Trump said. “I’m delighted to sign this bill. It’s been a long time since a bill like this has been signed, reaffirming our commitment to the core mission of Nasa: human space exploration, space science and technology.”

According to the text — adopted by a rare unanimous vote in the Senate and House of Representatives — Nasa will work toward the goal of “a crewed mission to Mars in the 2030s.”

The law also highlights the importance of the deep space capsule Orion, which is under development and aims to carry humans further into space than any spaceship ever has. Orion will be launched atop the “Space Launch System”, which the space agency has described as the most powerful rocket ever built.

Nasa “shall continue the development of the fully integrated SLS, including an upper stage needed to go beyond low-Earth orbit, to enable human space exploration of the Moon, Mars, and beyond over the course of next century,” said the text. — Agencies