What are the USAs Future Plans for Space Travel?
The USA’s future plans for space travel were outlined in the Vision for Space Exploration, stated by U.S. President George W. Bush on 14 January 2004. Throughout late 2004 and early 2005 Congress passed legislation showing their support for the Vision, including a $16.2 billion US Dollars NASA budget and a bill which explicitly endorses the project. The highlight of the Vision is a return to the Moon with robotic missions by 2008 and crewed missions by 2020, including plans for a long-habitation moon base to be occupied by 2024. The base would have astronauts staying for six months at a time, similar to a typical stay on a space station in low earth orbit. The Moon base is seen as a long-term stepping stone for Mars missions. The Vision for Space Exploration includes numerous goals and anticipated milestones, beginning as soon as 2008 and extending to 2024 and beyond. First are robotic missions to the Moon, planned for sometime between 2008 and 2010. In 2010, the Space Shuttles will be
