NASA reveals breathtaking images of our ‘closest, celestial friend’ the Moon

Following the announcement from US President Donald Trump that more than a billion dollars of additional funding will be made available to the agency, NASA released the stunning shots. Trump has claimed NASA can expect to receive an extra $1.6billion in order to bankroll missions to the Moon and Mars. On Twitter, NASA wrote: “Exploration is in our DNA and our closest celestial friend, the Moon, is a treasure chest of science.

“As we look forward to Moon 2024 mission, we’re sharing these highlights of our favourite neighbour taken from the Space Station and Earth.”

Each image highlights the cool beauty of the star.

Hundreds of people took to Twitter to share their own images of the moon.

In April, NASA accepted a five-year challenge to send its astronauts back to the Moon by 2024.

READ MORE: NASA BOMBSHELL: Trump vows to make agency GREAT again

When NASA returns to the Moon after 47 years since the 1972 Apollo 17 mission and last lunar landing, the space agency aims to establish a permanent residence on the Moon.

The incredible mission statement was made by NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine at the 35th Space Symposium on Tuesday, April 9, 2019.

The NASA chief, directed by US President Donald Trump, stressed NASA’s commitment to putting astronauts back on the Moon.

At present, the US has no vessels capable of taking astronauts into orbit.

In 2011, NASA’s Space Shuttle program was shelved.

But with the new monies available NASA is aiming to change all of that.

Trump said: “Under my administration, we are restoring NASA to greatness and we are going back to the Moon, then Mars.

“I am updating my budget to include an additional $1.6billion so that we can return to space in a big way!”

source: express.co.uk