General

NASA turns focus to Mars

New program will extend life of space station to at least 2020

NASA has announced plans to revamp the U.S. space program in order to develop technology that will send people to Mars, it announced Thursday. This program will see the development of commercial space taxi services, and will also encircle the planet with satellites to monitor climate change, Reuters reports. President Barack Obama proposed adding $2 billion to NASA’s $18 billion annual budget starting on October 1, which people involved say should result in the creation of more jobs. Meanwhile, NASA is retiring three space shuttles in the fall over cost and safety concerns after three more missions.

Reuters

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