Astronauts working at a Martian base. NASA/JPL

With key private sector space executives in attendance for his Monday inauguration, President Donald Trump declared that the U.S. will prioritize space exploration during his second term.

"We will pursue our manifest destiny into the stars, launching American astronauts to plant the Stars and Stripes on the planet Mars," Trump said. SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, a longtime proponent of Mars exploration, threw his hands into the air during the standing ovation that followed.

The company is one of NASA's largest contractors and is one of several currently working on projects related to Mars. So far, only unmanned rovers and orbiters have made it to the Red Planet...

USA Today: Trump wants to 'plant the Stars and Stripes' on Mars. How long will it take to get there?