The White House released a presidential message commemorating the 40th anniversary of the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster.
The statement honors the seven Challenger crew members and expresses a national recommitment to space exploration.
The president says he signed an Executive Order on Ensuring American Space Superiority last month.
The Executive Order calls for a U.S. return to the Moon by 2028 and aims to establish a permanent American lunar presence.
The statement includes an ambition to make the United States the first nation to land an astronaut on Mars.
The administration says it is empowering commercial space industry innovation to support those goals.
Follow Up Questions
Who were the seven people aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger?Expand
The seven Challenger crew were: Francis R. (“Dick”) Scobee (commander); Michael J. Smith (pilot); Ronald McNair (mission specialist); Ellison Onizuka (mission specialist); Judith Resnik (mission specialist); Gregory Jarvis (payload specialist); and Christa McAuliffe (payload specialist, teacher).