Source: Politico
“NASA is considering launching rockets to Mars next year, a major shift in priorities that could boost the fortunes of Elon Musk’s space company and speed up the timeline for astronauts to reach the red planet. The sudden switch follows the release of the White House’s 2026 budget proposal, which would increase funding for Mars-related projects by $1 billion and pay for the launches. It also signals the Trump’s administration’s intentions to prioritize sending people to Mars. … Congress may buck Trump and refuse to approve the funding in his budget request, especially if lawmakers worry the effort will delay lunar plans. The White House’s budget proposal also cancels the Gateway lunar space station program, which many senators support.” (05/07/25)
https://www.politico.com/news/2025/05/07/nasa-mars-rocket-launch-00331694