Today, we stand at the edge of a new and daring frontier—one that summons the same spirit of hope and courage that has always driven our nation to look up at the stars and wonder. Sixty years ago, our predecessors answered the call to explore the Moon. They defied the limits of what was deemed possible and forever etched a moment in history when an American foot first pressed into lunar dust. Their triumph wasn’t just about conquering outer space; it was about uniting a country around a bold, bright dream—proving that when we join hands, nothing is beyond our reach.

Now, we answer a new call, one that echoes through the centuries whenever humanity has peered beyond the horizon: We choose to go to Mars. We choose to send Americans to the Red Planet before the end of this decade. We do this, and the other great endeavors, not because they are easy—but precisely because they are hard, because they are the right and necessary steps to expand the frontier of mankind, to push forward the bold journey of human exploration, and to light the path for those who will follow.

We embark on this mission as a united people. It will not be one president, one agency, or one generation who shoulders the weight of this colossal effort. It will be thousands of brilliant scientists and engineers, resourceful entrepreneurs, educators inspiring our young dreamers, families encouraging the next great innovators—every corner of American life touched by a vision that transcends our daily divisions. This is our inheritance: a legacy woven by risk-takers who settled unknown territories and by scientists who smashed through barriers of thought and technology. To them, the idea of staying put was unthinkable. To us, it remains unthinkable still.

Yes, reaching Mars will demand unprecedented levels of commitment, courage, and grit. The financial costs will be high; the engineering challenges will be daunting. And there will be moments of doubt. But my confidence rests in the unshakable belief that our nation’s true wealth lies not in its pocketbooks alone, but in the boundless capacity of our innovation, our determination, and our faith in each other. Every dollar we invest in this endeavor will return to us manyfold—in technologies that save lives, in jobs that sustain families, in knowledge that ignites new fields of discovery, and in a generation of thinkers who will chase new stars because they learned that no dream is too distant.

Just as the Apollo Program forged materials, advances, and industries beyond anyone’s imagination, the Constellation Program—the program I am announcing today—will pioneer breakthroughs we can only begin to fathom. From radiation shielding to closed-loop life support, from next-gen propulsion to artificial intelligence, the technologies we develop for Mars will transform our world right here on Earth. They will bolster our stewardship of this planet, showing us more sustainable ways to live. They will stimulate our economy and spark entire new sectors, reminding us all that American ingenuity remains the gold standard for the world.

Yet beyond all the practical benefits and beyond the bottom lines, there is something far deeper at stake: our collective soul as an exploring species. We look to Mars not simply to plant a flag or stake a claim, but to reveal the secrets of life itself—to learn more about our cosmic origins, to protect and cherish our home planet by understanding others, and to inspire every human being to keep imagining, keep venturing, keep reaching for something greater.

And so, I tell you today: I am confident that I will return to this dais within five years’ time to celebrate a milestone in this nation’s great achievement. We are building the ships that will propel our bravest beyond Earth’s orbit. We are forming the teams that will solve the greatest riddles of interplanetary travel. We are harnessing the imagination of millions, all of us together, to elevate humanity to a place in history we can hardly comprehend. If there is any nation on the face of the Earth which can achieve this destiny, it is the United States of America.

To that end, I will soon propose measures to Congress to fully fund the Constellation Program. I call on our private sector to match our ambition with their risk-taking spirit, on our universities to equip the next generation of fearless thinkers, on our states and communities to turn local pride into global possibilities. Let no talent lie dormant. Let no corner of this great land remain untouched by the wonder of exploration. This is our time to remind the world who we are: a nation unafraid to see a mountain and climb it, to see an ocean and sail beyond its horizon, to see a planet and set foot on its ruddy soil.

My fellow Americans, in another hundred years, children yet unborn will read about the day we decided, once again, to lift our eyes to the heavens and refuse to be bound by fear or doubt. They will see in our actions the echoes of every bold step humanity has ever taken—from crossing the Atlantic in wooden ships to rocketing to the Moon in aluminum capsules. Let them read of our time with tears of pride in their eyes, marveling at the audacity and vision of those who came before.

And so, let us stand together at the brink of history. Let us embrace this mission, with all its trials, all its discoveries, and all its triumphs. Let us remember the words that still ring so true: We do these things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard—and because they are right. Let us push the boundaries of human possibility, hold fast to our common cause, and commit ourselves, once more, to leading the world into a realm no human has yet trodden. Long live the human spirit. God bless you all, and God bless the United States of America. May our dream of Mars unite us now and echo through time forever.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5661075&forum_id=2#48533263)