In a surprising omission, the latest document from the Trump Administration does not outline a concrete plan for sending humans to Mars. References to the red planet are minimal, with the prospect of a manned mission there described as a distant goal. Sources indicate that former President Trump lost interest in a Mars mission upon realizing it was unachievable during his potential second term.
The document also lacks significant emphasis on space science, briefly mentioning the goal of "optimizing space research-and-development investments to achieve my Administration’s near-term space objectives." This shift in focus may have implications for science missions, as Russ Vought, the head of the Office of Management and Budget, who was behind the proposed deep cuts in space science funding, is a key player in shaping these policies.
Overall, the policies signed by Trump are forward-thinking, primarily aiming to modernize NASA’s exploration endeavors. Among the challenges facing the space agency are landing humans on the Moon by 2028 and collaborating with the industry to develop a replacement for the International Space Station. How these challenges are addressed remains to be seen, promising an intriguing storyline in the near future.