NASA said it lacks the funding to conduct manned missions to Mars, reported Ars Technica.
The agency’s chief of human spaceflight William Gerstenmaier said NASA did not have the required funding for the missions, and that entry, descent, and landing is a huge challenge on Mars.
NASA has pushed its “Journey to Mars” programme over the last few years in attempt to increase public interest in spaceflight, but has conceded that a lack of budget increases has placed manned missions beyond its reach for now.
Elon Musk’s SpaceX remains set on sending humans to Mars as soon as possible using the Falcon Heavy launch vehicle and Interplanetary Transport System.
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