Congress wants NASA to build a space habitat for Astronauts on Mars in 2 years after adding to the agency's budget.
Congress wants NASA to have a mission to Mars by increasing the agency’s budget by adding $1.3 billion next year in order to build a space habitat on Mars for future astronauts.
Read: Astronauts Will Get to Watch Latest Star Wars Film in Space
According to Popular Science, Congress has directed NASA to use $55 million if its $19.3 billion budget to begin the habitat.
NASA has 180 days from December 18, the day it was awarded the funding, to produce a status report on the program to Congress.
Congress has given NASA until 2018 to build a livable prototype.
The agency’s biggest challenges in creating the habitat include protecting astronauts from radiation and crafting a light-weight territory.
Read: In 1969, It Cost Buzz Aldrin $33.31 to Fly to the Moon
NASA hopes to begin testing the habitat between the Earth and moon by the 2020s and to conduct crewed missions to Mars by the 2030s.
Watch Below: SpaceX Makes History By Successfully Landing a Rocket After Launch
