NASA planning new human space outpost as stepping stone to Mars

Engineers are planning to revamp NASA's Orion deep-space crew capsule as the new outpost.

Astronauts will use the new base to control robots on the Moon – and prepare for exploration of deep space.

The new station would house a crew of four for up to two months in space.

It could act as a way station between the Moon and Earth, a lab for space experiments and a dry run for a mission to Mars.

The Moon is almost exactly 1,000 times further from the Earth than the ISS – where Brit astronaut Tim Peake is busy beavering away.

The Red Planet is another 1,000 times further – so the new space base could be a vital step to a new Martian colony.

(dailystar.co.uk)