NASA -- Another exploration to the moon must be sent out within the next five years. Mike Pence expressed how important it is to have another exploration to the mean and he emphasized this by saying that it should be done "by any means necessary."
In his speech, the US Vice President called on to the space agency to accelerate all efforts and aim the next moon exploration at the south pole of the moon. While in a meeting with the National Space Council in Huntsville, Alabama, he expressed that the NASA space rockets and lunar landers may be replaced by private ones if necessary.
"It is time that we double our efforts. We can make it happen. But it will not happen unless we put in more effort to make it possible." he said.
NASA already has put another moon expedition in line with all the other projects the space agency wants to push. However, the earliest moon landing according to their plan won't happen until 2028. Mr. Pence has also expressed that he recognizes the role that money and talent play in this expedition. "Both money and talent will fuel such expedition and we can only make this possible sooner if we have both."
Mr Pence, however, warned NASA that if they cannot take out the mission by 2024, the agency will have to be replaced. "It is not the mission that needs changing. It's the people who cannot make it possible."
He also said that the agency needs to be revamped to make it more accountable in its successes as well as in its delays. "It needs to become a more agile organization. It needs to be leaner in its operations and must adopt the 'all hands on deck' approach in its operations."
Jim Bridenstine, NASA administrator, gave Mr. Pence the assurance that the agency will do its best to possibly meet the deadline. However, some experts outside of NASA expressed their skepticism about the given timeline.
Jonathan McDowell, a professor, and scientist at the Center for Astrophysics in Cambridge said, "I will be astonished if they can make it happen."
He also noted that a lunar lander must be made. The agency has to come up with a new design, build it and test it.
"In a five-year scale and everything that needs to be done, it is quite impossible, not to mention the political budget that the project requires," he added.
This summer, the world is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the first man on the moon. No country has ever attempted to send humans in space for another lunar landing. But then again, it isn't too late to make it happen again, right?
