Moon, asteroids, and Mars aGO!

Moon, asteroids, and Mars are GO!

Astronauts will return to the moon and prepare for exploring Mars and near asteroids U.S. President Bush is expected to propose next week.

NASA's space shuttle fleet would be retired as soon as construction of the ISS is completed.

The president will begin this initiative by asking Congress for a down payment of $800 million. Bush also plans to ask Congress to boost NASA's budget by 5 percent annually over at least the next five years.

The plan calls for NASA to convert a planned orbital space plane into a new spaceship. NASA would end substantial involvement in the ISS about the same time the moon landings begin in 2013.

The various models of the CEV would be 21st century versions of the 1960s Apollo spacecraft. When they become operational, they would be able to conduct various missions in Earth orbit, travel to and land on the moon, send astronauts to rendezvous with nearby asteroids, and eventually serve as part of a series of manned missions to Mars.

Further details will be announced in NASA briefings next week and when the president delivers his FY 2005 budget to Congress.

http://www.upi.com/view.cfm?StoryID 040107-123930-1532r