The Trump administration's support for NASA shows that it "sees the value of space" travel, former astronaut Winston Scott told Newsmax on Sunday.
Appearing on "Sunday Report" with co-hosts Bill Spadea and Krysia Lenzo, Scott praised President Donald Trump for spotlighting NASA's Artemis II astronauts during Saturday night's Independence Day celebration, saying the administration has restored momentum to America's space program.
"It was only a few years ago when we were beginning to languish in space," Scott said. "But we have an administration in place now ... that really sees the value of space and really supporting it."
Scott pointed to the upcoming Artemis II mission, NASA's planned lunar base, and future missions to Mars as evidence the United States is reclaiming its leadership in space exploration.
He also noted the rapid pace of launches from Florida's Space Coast.
"At Kennedy Space Center last year, we launched over 100 space launches," Scott said. "There are so many things going on in space that are testament to the leadership of America in space. I hope we never relinquish that leadership."
The Trump administration has made returning Americans to the moon and eventually sending astronauts to Mars a major priority while relying heavily on partnerships with private companies, including SpaceX, to accelerate development.
Joining Scott on the program, former NASA rocket scientist and author Olympia LePoint said a human mission to Mars remains achievable but will require significant technological breakthroughs.
"The reason why there's a push for people to go to Mars today is to develop the science and technology needed to sustain human life on a changing planet," LePoint said.
She explained that scientists must solve several major challenges before astronauts can safely make the nine- to 10-month journey to the Red Planet.
Among them are developing systems to recycle air and water, creating advanced nuclear-based propulsion capable of supporting long-duration missions, and protecting astronauts from dangerous cosmic radiation.
"Cosmic radiation can cut through a rocket and it can cut through human DNA," LePoint said. "Humans are affected from that."
LePoint argued that the research required for deep-space exploration will produce technologies that also improve life on Earth.
"The science and innovation is going to take a team of people to create the solutions, not only to go to Mars, but to take it back and bring those solutions here back on Earth," she said.
NASA is preparing Artemis II, expected to become the first crewed mission to orbit the moon since Apollo 17 in 1972.
The mission is designed to pave the way for Artemis III, which aims to return astronauts to the lunar surface before eventually establishing a sustained human presence there.
Scott said continued American leadership in space is critical not only for scientific advancement but also for maintaining the nation's technological and strategic edge, calling space exploration one of the country's greatest strengths.
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