Nelson: Humans on Mars, moon are ‘clear goals’ for space program

Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) used the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing to set forth new goals for the space program in the 21st century.

The two-term senator called upon the memory of President John F. Kennedy and spaceflight’s golden age during the 1960s to back his agenda.

Nelson, who is Chair of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee’s and Space Subcommittee, tweeted this Monday afternoon:

I remember when JFK reminded us that this country was not built by those who rested, and set a lofty goal for our country — the moon.

Our president needs to set clear goals for space exploration: a lunar base, humans on Mars and keep going.

Space flight grows science and technology. It grows education. And it grows the economy.

And on this historic 40th anniversary of the moon landing, let’s not rest. It’s up to us to reach for the stars.

President Barack Obama is scheduled to meet with the crew of Apollo 11 to commemorate the lunar landing’s 40th anniversary and to discuss a manned mission to Mars.

NASA’s Kennedy Space Center is located in Nelson’s home state of Florida. Nearly all U.S. spaceflight missions launch from the facility, as did the Apollo 11 mission.