Obama promises to send humans to Mars by 2030

The president announced the partnership with private space companies on Tuesday

(Emmanuel Dunand/Getty, olegkalina/iStock)

President Barack Obama announced on Tuesday that the US government is working with private space companies to send humans to Mars by 2030.

The president penned an op-ed for CNN saying that the new partnership will help build sustainable environments and transport astronauts on long-term missions in space.

"We have set a clear goal vital to the next chapter of America's story in space: sending humans to Mars by the 2030s and returning them safely to Earth, with the ultimate ambition to one day remain there for an extended time," he wrote in the editorial.

The announcement comes days before the president hosts White House Frontiers Conference in Pittsburgh on October 13.

“Someday, I hope to hoist my own grandchildren onto my shoulders,” Mr Obama writes. “We'll still look to the stars in wonder, as humans have since the beginning of time."

"But instead of eagerly awaiting the return of our intrepid explorers, we'll know that because of the choices we make now, they've gone to space not just to visit, but to stay -- and in doing so, to make our lives better here on Earth."

Mr Obama first outlined the ambitious plan in 2010 saying he planned on sending astronauts to orbit the Red Planet before returning them safely back to Earth.