Australia Will Join U.S. for 2024 Moon Mission, Mars Exploration

Secretary Wilbur Ross and Morrison witness the signing of a letter of intent between NASA and the Australian Space Agency on Saturday.Photographer:Joel Kowsky/NASA

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By Steve Geimann

September 21, 2019 at 7:12 PM UTC

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Australia will join the U.S. on the mission to return to the lunar surface and then fly to Mars.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Saturday announced his government will join the Moon-to-Mars project, including the NASA Artemis lunar program. Morrison pledged to more than triple the Australian Space Agency’s budget, according to a statement from NASA during Morrison’s U.S. visit.