Trump: US will be first nation to plant flag on Mars

Donald Trump has pledged the United States will be the first country to put an astronaut on Mars during his address to the Republican National Convention (RNC), Report says, citing RIA Novosti.

The President also claimed America would be the first country to put a female astronaut on the Moon. NASA hopes to return humans to the Moon in 2024, but some experts have challenged this timetable.

Speaking to around a thousand supporters, the President said: “We will launch a new age of American Ambition in space.

“America will land the first woman on the moon – and the United States will be the first nation to plant its flag on Mars.”

The Trump administration announced the resumption of the lunar program, named Artemis. It envisages the return and permanent presence of humans on the Moon, which will be a stage to crewed missions to Mars. As part of the new lunar program, NASA is developing the idea of creating a near-lunar gateway station.