Wow! Obama wants to send people to Mars by 2030s

Barack Obama has vowed to help send people to Mars within the next two decades, working with private companies to achieve his goal.

The US President also said he is convening a meeting of scientists, engineers and students this week "to dream up ways to build on our progress and find the next frontiers".

"We have set a clear goal vital to the next chapter of America's story in space: sending humans to Mars by the 2030s and returning them safely to Earth, with the ultimate ambition to one day remain there for an extended time," Mr Obama said.

In an opinion piece for CNN, the President said involving private companies is crucial.

However, he stopped short of any detail on the cost of his ambitions or how the US would finance such a mission.

The President will be keen for such an achievement to form part of his legacy as he nears the end of his second term.

"More than 1,000 companies across nearly all 50 states are working on private space initiatives," he said, adding that private companies will be able to send astronauts to the International Space Station within two years.

He said the US is working with commercial partners "to build new habitats that can sustain and transport astronauts on long-duration missions in deep space". 

"These missions will teach us how humans can live far from Earth - something we'll need for the long journey to Mars," he wrote.

In his piece, the President spoke in personal terms of his fascination with space travel.

"One of my earliest memories is sitting on my grandfather's shoulders, waving a flag as our astronauts returned to Hawaii," he wrote.

"I still have the same sense of wonder about our space program that I did as a child."

He credited the space programme with contributing to technological and medical advances and inspiring a generation of scientists.

With its boundary-pushing, Mr Obama said, it represents an essential trait of US character.

"Someday, I hope to hoist my own grandchildren onto my shoulders. We'll still look to the stars in wonder, as humans have since the beginning of time," he said.

"But instead of eagerly awaiting the return of our intrepid explorers, we'll know that because of the choices we make now, they've gone to space not just to visit, but to stay - and in doing so, to make our lives better here on Earth."

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