NASA announced Monday that Trump challenged the agency to land at the south pole of the moon by 2024. That would be Trump's last year in office if he is re-elected. In December 2017, Trump signed Space Policy Directive 1, which called for NASA to send humans to the moon for the first time since 1972 for "long-term exploration and use" and missions to other planets.
The space agency also revealed the new mission's name will be Artemis, the Greek goddess of the moon and twin sister of Apollo. NASA's Apollo 11 mission succeeded in landing the first humans on the moon on July 20, 1969.
"Fifty years after Apollo, the Artemis program will carry the next man and first woman to the moon," said Bridenstine during a press call.
"To land American astronauts on the Moon by 2024, we are working through the acquisition approach for the various projects," said NASA in a statement. "Our efforts will include new work at NASA centers to provide the key technologies and scientific payloads needed for the lunar surface, adding to efforts already underway across the country."
NASA hopes that more exploration of the moon will help the US establish a strategic presence in space and grow their international partnerships. One billion dollars of the budget will go directly to the development of a commercial human lunar system that will take humans to the moon's surface.