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Donald Trump is set to sign a directive ordering NASA to send astronauts back to the moon - and eventually Mars.

It’s his administration’s first space policy directive and will be signed in a White House ceremony later today.

Spokesman Hogan Gidley said Trump will sign "Space Policy Directive 1" that orders NASA "to lead an innovative space exploration program to send American astronauts back to the Moon, and eventually Mars."

It’s long been rumoured that Trump’s team were gearing up to send humans on Lunar missions for the first time since the Apollo 17 mission in 1972.

At the first meeting of the National Space Council in October, Vice President Mike Pence said: “We will return American astronauts to the moon, not only to leave behind footprints and flags, but to build the foundation we need to send Americans to Mars and beyond.”

(Image: White House/Youtube)

He directed the space agency to provide a report on plans to carry out such a mission.

It’s thought plans could include a “Deep Space Gateway” - effectively a lunar or orbital refuelling station which could increase the range and usefulness of spacecraft.