Trump to direct NASA to send astronauts to moon, Mars: White House

WASHINGTON, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump will sign his administration's first space policy directive on Monday, directing the U.S. space agency NASA to send astronauts back to the moon and eventually Mars, the White House said.

Trump will sign "Space Policy Directive 1" that directs the NASA administrator "to lead an innovative space exploration program" to do that, Deputy White House Press Secretary Hogan Gidley said in a statement.

"Since the beginning of his Administration, President Trump has taken steps to refocus NASA on its core mission of space exploration," Gidley said.

"The President listened to the National Space Council's recommendations and he will change our nation's human spaceflight policy to help America become the driving force for the space industry, gain new knowledge from the cosmos, and spur incredible technology."

Trump reestablished the National Space Council in June and designated Vice President Mike Pence as its chair.

The council was first created in 1989 during the administration of President George H.W. Bush but later disbanded in 1993 under President Bill Clinton. Enditem