Trump bets on Mars: he wants to send the first American to the red planet.

NASA is considering a human landing on Mars by 2026, after receiving a $1 billion allocation in the new federal budget submitted by the Donald Trump administration, a space agency spokesperson said.

The U.S. government has unveiled details of the presidential budget for fiscal year 2026 , which includes a strategic reorientation of NASA's priorities toward human exploration of the Moon and Mars . In addition to the Mars fund, the plan includes more than $7 billion for lunar missions.

“ We are evaluating all opportunities, including launch windows in 2026 and 2028, to test technologies that will enable a human landing on Mars ,” NASA said in a written statement sent to EFE .

The space agency emphasized that the new budget prioritizes transformative space technologies and transfers projects to the private sector where it's most efficient. In that context, SpaceX, led by Elon Musk , plays a central role thanks to its development of reusable rockets and its stated goal of facilitating the colonization of the red planet.

The new approach also seeks to advance the space race with China, aiming to return to the Moon before the Asian giant and land the first American on Mars.

However, this expansion into deep space entails cuts and cancellations in other areas of the agency.

The budget includes the retirement of the Space Launch System (SLS) and the Orion capsule after the Artemis III mission, as well as the cancellation of the Gateway program.

NASA also plans a transition to more economical commercial systems for future lunar missions and a reduction in crew and scientific activities on board the International Space Station (ISS), preparing for its retirement in 2030 and eventual replacement by commercial space stations.

“ The proposal combines scientific and technological exploration with a clear vision: to advance American leadership in space and advance toward the first human landing on Mars,” concluded Janet Petro, acting NASA administrator.