Post by Salem6 on Jan 9, 2004 10:48:47 GMT
President George W Bush will announce proposals next week to send Americans to Mars, and back to the Moon.
Senior US officials say he will also reveal plans for the construction of a permanent lunar space station.
The Mars mission will not take place for a decade
Mr Bush intends to reinvigorate the US space programme following setbacks, including the Columbia shuttle disaster, the officials report.
The manned mission to Mars - where Nasa successfully just landed a probe - is not expected for at least 10 years.
Correspondents say Mr Bush had been expected to propose a bold new space mission as part of his re-election campaign.
Lunar testing ground
The president's father proposed men be sent to Mars when he was in office in 1989 but the project went nowhere due to cost.
Sources say George W Bush will encourage scientists to prepare for the mission in a decade's time, allowing the costs to be spread over a number of years.
The last time the US had men on the Moon was more than 30 years ago.
As the Moon is just three days away, while Mars is at least six months away, it is thought the former could become a testing ground for space equipment.
As part of the Bush space initiative, there will reportedly be more exchanges of technology between the US space agency (Nasa) and the Pentagon.
It is hoped the exploration could lead to new technologies and potential new energy supplies.
Senior US officials say he will also reveal plans for the construction of a permanent lunar space station.
The Mars mission will not take place for a decade
Mr Bush intends to reinvigorate the US space programme following setbacks, including the Columbia shuttle disaster, the officials report.
The manned mission to Mars - where Nasa successfully just landed a probe - is not expected for at least 10 years.
Correspondents say Mr Bush had been expected to propose a bold new space mission as part of his re-election campaign.
Lunar testing ground
The president's father proposed men be sent to Mars when he was in office in 1989 but the project went nowhere due to cost.
Sources say George W Bush will encourage scientists to prepare for the mission in a decade's time, allowing the costs to be spread over a number of years.
The last time the US had men on the Moon was more than 30 years ago.
As the Moon is just three days away, while Mars is at least six months away, it is thought the former could become a testing ground for space equipment.
As part of the Bush space initiative, there will reportedly be more exchanges of technology between the US space agency (Nasa) and the Pentagon.
It is hoped the exploration could lead to new technologies and potential new energy supplies.