Trump Slams NASA: Focus on Mars, Not Moon

(AP)

By Jason Devaney | Friday, 07 June 2019 02:52 PM

Hours after NASA announced it will allow private companies and astronauts to use the International Space Station as the agency continues to focus on returning Americans to the moon in the coming years, President Donald Trump blasted the agency in a strongly worded tweet.

Trump appeared frustrated that NASA said it is turning its attention to the moon and not Mars.

"For all of the money we are spending, NASA should NOT be talking about going to the Moon - We did that 50 years ago. They should be focused on the much bigger things we are doing, including Mars (of which the Moon is a part), Defense and Science!" he tweeted.

NASA said Friday morning the Space Station will soon be open for private entities and astronauts to use — for a fee, of course. The decision, according to the announcement, will allow more ideas and innovation to foster in the realm of outer space.

Trump is not alone in his call to redirect attention on traveling to Mars. Retired astronaut Buzz Aldrin wants to see humans set up bases on the red planet, while tech executives such as SpaceX founder and CEO Elon Musk have expressed a desire to see humans travel to Mars during his lifetime.

NASA landed another rover on Mars last November as it continues to explore the planet to ascertain whether it could sustain life.