Assessing the Feasibility of Human Mars Missions

As Elon Musk leads a project to drastically remake the federal government, one goal might be fueling it all: getting to Mars. 

It’s an objective that President Donald Trump seems to share. In his inaugural address on Jan. 20, Trump promised that the U.S. would “pursue our manifest destiny into the stars, launching American astronauts to plant the Stars and Stripes on the planet Mars.”

But what are the obstacles to get to the Red Planet?

Host Martine Powers speaks with space reporter Christian Davenport about the U.S. ambitions to get to Mars — and how the country, along with private space companies, could actually get there.

Today’s show was produced and mixed by Ted Muldoon. It was edited by Reena Flores with help from Renita Jablonski and Maggie Penman. 

Subscribe to The Washington Post here.