President Bush is set to endorse using nuclear power to explore Mars and open up the outer Solar System.
He is expected to back the US space agency's recent nuclear propulsion initiative, Project Prometheus, either in his State of the Union speech, due on 28 January, or later this year when he submits his 2004 budget to Congress.
It is believed he will give the initiative $1bn over five years, arguing that nuclear propulsion represents an essential technology for the manned and unmanned exploration of space.
Supporters say nuclear power could change the nature of space exploration, but add that it will take many years and significant resources to develop.
'New vistas'
Jim Garvin, Nasa's lead scientist for Mars Exploration, told BBC News Online that the space agency was very committed to "pursuing a vision in which access to unexplored territories in the Universe is possible" and that included "technology to open up new vistas and approaches".
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/2684329.stm
_________________________________________________
Mars in 2 months? Sounds great. This would give NASA and the USA a lot of prestige. Lets hope everything pans out over the next 10 years. Much research still needs to be done.
Pete