In his prepared remarks, Trump, a longtime backer of U.S.-led space exploration and exploitation, singled out Mars and left the moon hanging.

Some of the more notable debris on Mars includes pieces of the Viking landers, heat shields, pieces of insulation and, more recently, parachutes and backshells from rover missions Curiosity and Perseverance. The latter includes what is now a grounded drone with a busted propeller.

During his inaugural address, Donald Trump said the United States would consider itself a growing nation under his presidency and he would bring the nation's flag "into new and beautiful horizons." Trump went on to say American astronauts would "plant the stars and stripes on the planet Mars,

US President Donald Trump vowed Monday to "plant the Stars and Stripes on the planet Mars" but made no mention of NASA's planned return to the Moon, heightening speculation about

Sky News host Danica De Giorgio says United States President Trump has vowed to be the “first commander and chief to put US astronauts on Mars”.

President Trump vowed to send astronauts to Mars during his second inaugural address. "We will pursue our Manifest Destiny into the stars," he said, promising to send astronauts to plant the American flag on Mars.