NASA reveals timeline for US Mars expedition
Illustrative photo: the Orion spacecraft preparing for launch to the Moon as part of the Artemis 1 mission (Getty Images)
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) plans to send an expedition to Mars in the early 2030s, according to NASA administrator Sean Duffy and an interview with Fox News.
He noted that in the near future the agency will begin sending cargo to the Moon and building a base camp there. The experience gained at this station, he added, would be crucial for sustaining astronaut life.
Duffy explained that NASA aims to reach Mars in the early 2030s, stressing the importance of the mission. According to him, it will last more than eight months, and the agency must learn how to stay on the planet and then return safely.
NASA activities
Earlier, the acting head of NASA announced plans to replace the ISS and focus on lunar exploration. In particular, a nuclear reactor is planned to be built on the Moon’s surface.
Last week Duffy held the first meeting in eight years with the head of Roscosmos, Dmitriy Bakanov. The agencies’ leaders discussed extending the operation of the ISS, continuing cross-flights, and the process of deorbiting the station.
