Man on Mars by 2037
2007-09-26 13:12
New Delhi - Nasa aims to put a person on Mars by 2037 and build a space civilisation, Michael Griffin, the administrator of the US space agency told the International Astronautical Congress (IAC) in India's southern Hyderabad city, reports said on Tuesday.
"We have a long-term plan to put a man on Mars by 2037," PTI news agency quoted Griffin as saying.
Griffin, who made the remarks during an interactive session of space chiefs at the 58th IAC, also outlined Nasa's ambitious plans for the future that involved building a space civilisation.
"Nasa is looking beyond the moon and Mars into the inter-planetary system," the official said.
"With manned missions to the moon from 2020 onwards and Mars a decade later, we want to build a space civilisation for tomorrow," said Griffin.
He called for greater private investment in satellite and rocket launches for reducing the cost of space transportation and making missions to the moon and Mars commercially feasible.
Space tourism
"As of now, it appears space tourism may be the only way out to make space transportation economical. Though space tourism will generate funds, we have to evolve a mechanism to train the prospective tourists and ensure their safety," Griffin was quoted by IANS news agency as saying.
To attract greater private participation in space ventures, Nasa is aiding select US companies to build a business model to offer orbital transportation services, as co-operation with other space- faring countries may not be economically viable in future endeavours.
US President George W Bush had in January 2004 announced plans for the US to return to the moon by 2020 and use the satellite as a launchpad for manned missions to Mars and beyond.
Nasa's Phoenix spacecraft is scheduled to land on Mars's northern hemisphere next May to assess whether the red planet can support life.
Sapa-dpa
- SAPA