White House press secretary Jen Psaki on Thursday expressed support for NASA’s Artemis program, which aims to land the first woman and the next man on the moon by 2024.
Psaki told reporters at Thursday’s press conference that the US government “will work with industry and international partners to send astronauts to the surface of the moon.”
“Another man and a woman to the moon, which is very exciting,” said Psaki, noting that to date, “only 12 people have walked on the moon – that’s half a century ago.”
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All 12 were Americans.
Psaki said the Artemis program would “lead new and exciting science, prepare for future missions to Mars, and demonstrate America’s values.”
NASA published the Artemis Plan last year, calling for $ 28 billion for the lunar program.
In 2019, NASA revealed details of its vision for the Artemis Moon Lander, which will return American astronauts to the lunar surface.
“With the Artemis program, NASA will land the first woman and the next man on the moon by 2024, using innovative technologies to explore more of the lunar surface than ever before,” NASA said. “We will work with our commercial and international partners and achieve sustainable exploration by the end of the decade.”
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NASA added, “Next, we’ll use what we’ve learned on and around the moon to take the next giant leap – sending astronauts to Mars.”
Initial mission capability for 2024 will include the landing of two astronauts on the south pole of the moon. According to NASA, astronauts will live and work on the lander for six and a half days.
Psaki’s announcement comes when she was criticized this week for her comments about the US Space Force, where she seemingly mocked a question from a reporter asking if President Biden would keep the Space Force’s reach.
Psaki took note of Space Force’s “important work” on Tuesday evening, amid criticism.
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“We look forward to Space Force’s continued work and invite members of the team to visit us at any time in the briefing room to provide an update on their important work,” she said.
And on Wednesday, when asked if the space force has “the full support” of the Biden government, Psaki said “absolutely.”
“They have absolutely the full support of the Biden government,” said Psaki. “And we will not reconsider the decision to create the Space Force.”
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“The desire for the Department of Defense to devote more attention and resources to the growing security challenges in space has long been a bipartisan issue, informed by numerous independent committees and investigations conducted by multiple administrations,” added Psaki, adding that “thousands of men and women serve proudly” in the Space Force.
Psaki added that the Space Force “was created by Congress and that all other steps should really be taken by Congress, not the government.”