President Donald Trump spoke with NASA astronauts aboard the international space station on Monday, discussing the effects of prolonged zero-gravity on the human body and future endeavors of America's space program.
Astronaut Peggy Whitson was celebrating her record for most cumulative days in space along with astronaut Jack Fischer, prompting President Trump to ask the astronauts about travel to Mars.
"What is the timing for actually sending humans to Mars," he asked. "Is there a schedule, and when would you see that happening?"
Whitson gave an approximate timeline of the 2030s to which President Trump jokingly asked if the task could be accomplished within the next eight years.
"We want to try and do it during my first term or at worst during my second term, so we'll have to speed that up a little bit," he said.
"On behalf of our nation and, frankly, on behalf of our world, I'd like to thank you," President Trump added.