Trump To NASA: We Will Return To Moon And Land On Mars

WASHINGTON, DC — President Donald Trump on Monday signed a directive to refocus America’s space program on exploration and discovery, telling NASA it will provide a pathway for Americans to land back on the moon and beyond to Mars.

"This time we will not only plant our flag and leave our footprint," he said, "we will establish a foundation for an eventual mission to Mars, and perhaps someday, to many worlds beyond."

Trump made the announcement at the White House Monday and was joined by several current and former astronauts, including Buzz Aldrin, the second man to walk on the moon. Former U.S. Sen. and Apollo 17 astronaut Harrison "Jack" Schmitt also attended.

The directive is supposed to establish a partnership between government, private business and international effort to put astronauts back on the moon and further into space.

Trump said it "marks an important step in returning American astronauts to the moon for the first time since 1972 for long-time exploration."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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