The new initiative includes a base on the moon, a nuclear-powered flight to Mars and a replacement for the ISS.

The agency is cancelling plans to deploy a space station in lunar orbit and ​will instead use its components to construct the ‌base, NASA chief Jared Isaacman announced Tuesday.

The people of Earth have aspirations to return to the Moon and eventually colonize Mars, two places where oxygen isn't exactly in abundance.

NASA plans to develop a permanent moon base in three opening phases, investing $20 billion over seven years to create a human foothold.