The space agency of United States – NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) on Wednesday told Congress that it has dropped the idea of developing permanent base on the moon, instead it will focus its operation on Mars.

Chris Scolese, the acting administrator of NASA, told the legislators that the space agency will not build permanent station on Moon as originally planned, but the agency will continue its missions to Mars; in fact, human missions to Mars or a near-Earth asteroid.   
 
The weekly international science magazine and website covering recent developments in science and technology, NewScientist reported that Chris Scolese testified to the House Committee on Appropriations subcommittee, which oversees space. He clarified that the space agency is open to sending human missions to destinations like Mars or a near-Earth asteroid.

In January 2004, the then president Bush had announced his "vision" for the U.S. missions to the moon and Mars, and in December 2006, NASA had announced that it would land a crew on the moon by 2020.