Trump signs bill to send people to Mars

President Trump has his sights set on Mars.

On Tuesday, President Donald Trump signed a bill providing a $19.5 billion funding boost to NASA in 2018with the specific intent of Mars exploration andto send a manned mission to the red planet.

The new bill, named NASA Transition Authorization Act,will push forward construction of the Space Launch System rocket and the Orion crew capsule that NASA has been steadily readying to carry humans to Mars by 2030.

Though he dreams of a Mars mission, it doesn’t seem like Trump wants to be on it.

During the bill signing, the president turned to Sen. Ted Cruz, the chief sponsor of the bill, to ask if he should ready himself for a trip to outer space.

“I don’t know Ted, would you like to do it?” he asked. “I don’t think I would.”

“I’m delighted to sign this bill,” the president said. “It’s been a long time since a bill like this has been signed, reaffirming our commitment to the core mission of NASA: human space exploration, space science and technology,” Trump said.

Vice President Mike Pence will head up the National Space Council, which is an advisory committee that has not been in operation since President George H.W. Bush was in office.