Antonio Manaytay – Fourth Estate Contributor
Washington, DC, United States (4E) – President Donald Trump has signed Monday the US Space Policy directive instructing NASA to return American astronauts to the moon once more as a part of the manned extraterrestrial exploration program.
“It is America’s destiny to be at the forefront of humanity’s eternal quest for knowledge and to be the leader amongst nations on our adventure into the great unknown,” Trump, in an announcement launched by the White House after signing, mentioned.
The plan to return to the moon and past was endorsed by the National Space Council throughout its October inaugural assembly so as “to change the course of US human spaceflight exploration.”
The Space Policy Directive-1 signed by the US president got here six months after reviving the National Space Council, the primary time in 24 years.
Astronaut Harrison Schmitt, who is without doubt one of the two people left to stroll on the moon as a part of the Apollo 17 mission 45 years in the past.
After Apollo 17 no American astronaut had gone past low-Earth orbit. NASA, at current, doesn’t personal an area automobile. The final of its area shuttles have been retired in 2011.
“This time, we will not only plant our flag and leave our footprint, we will establish a foundation for an eventual mission to Mars and, perhaps someday, to many worlds beyond,” the president mentioned.
The signing of the directive had set the template of what Trump administration units to do in area: conquer Mars. Getting a manned exploration of the Red Planet, nevertheless, is one thing the area neighborhood is just not but sure.
The Trump administration’s moon-first method to area exploration was first introduced by Vice President Pence in the course of the October assembly of the National Space Council.
To harness the potential of the privately-run area applications, Trump will create incentives for personal trade.
“The United States will work with other nations and private industry to return astronauts to the Moon,” the White House assertion mentioned.
The new area program coverage seeks to reclaim the nation’s management in area exploration.
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