NASA is still on track for a crewed mission to the Red Planet by the 2030s, thanks to a $500 million budget boost for 2016, NASA's chief said Monday. "NASA is firmly on a journey to Mars," Charles Bolden said in his State of NASA speech. "Make no mistake, this journey will help guide and define our generation." The agency's 2016 budget request totaling $18.5 million also includes funding for a mission to Jupiter's moon Europa, as well as the agency's asteroid redirect mission, although it also sacrifices the Opportunity rover's mission on Mars next year.
