Trump: U.S. is going to Mars ‘very soon’

President Trump told troops in California on Tuesday that the U.S. would be going to Mars in the very near future. 

“Very soon we’re going to Mars. You wouldn’t be going to Mars if my opponent won, that I can tell you. You wouldn’t even be thinking about it,” Trump said.

Trump signed a directive in December aiming to send Americans to the moon, and eventually Mars. 

{mosads}The directive orders NASA “to lead an innovative space exploration program to send American astronauts back to the Moon, and eventually Mars,” according to the White House. 

The president has made various changes to U.S. space policy during his first year in office. 

Trump’s space policy will replace former President Obama’s, which did not include a goal to return to the Moon. Obama’s policy focused on sending astronauts to deep space and potentially an asteroid by 2025, and to orbit Mars by the mid-2030s.

Vice President Pence announced the relaunch of the National Space Council last year. 

The council works to centralize various federal agencies with oversight into space policy.

“Under President Donald Trump, America will lead in space again and the world will marvel,” Pence said.

“Our National Space Council will help our nation re-energize the pioneering spirit of America,” he continued. “And it will ensure that America never again loses our lead in space exploration and technology.”