Mars. NASA plans to send a manned mission to Mars in the 2030s. Photo: NASA.

JNS.org – America’s National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) plans to send a manned mission to Mars in the 2030s, NASA Administrator Charlie Bolden said Monday during a visit to Israel.

Accompanied by Israeli Science, Technology and Space Minister Ofir Akunis and Givatayim Mayor Ran Konik, Bolden toured the Givatayim Observatory on Monday. The NASA chief said that international cooperation would be needed for manned missions to Mars to succeed, and that he is interested in exploring how Israel could help the effort.

Akunis, who expressed hope that NASA would include an Israeli astronaut on an upcoming mission to the International Space Station, told Israel Hayom that Bolden’s visit “is important and will increase the cooperation between Israel and the United States.”