ALABAMA/WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump has marked the 50th anniversary of the Moon landing by briefing the surviving Apollo 11 astronauts on his administration’s plans to return to the Moon by 2024.

Mr Trump, First Lady Melania Trump and Vice President Mike Pence met with the second man on the Moon, Buzz Aldrin, Apollo 11 command module pilot Michael Collins and the two sons of Neil Armstrong in the Oval Office.

The US President said he told them “we are bringing the glamour back” to the space program. It comes after Aldrin tore into the US space program, labeling it “very discouraging” and “not very good”.

“Many of us who followed Neil may still feel we are waiting for that giant leap after landing on the Moon,” he said at the US Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama. Mr Trump, flanked by Aldrin and Collins, later touted the development of his Space Force in front of reporters.

“Space to me is important for defense and offence, I guess you could say,” Mr Trump said. “It’s not just about going to the Moon and going to Mars, because we don’t know what we’re going to find on Mars but it’s certainly a trip that’s going to be very interesting.”

Mr Trump said the White House was supportive of technology companies investing in space travel. “NASA’s back,” Mr Trump declared. “We’re having rich guys use it and pay us rent. I like that.” Collins said partnerships with private companies would help advance US space exploration much quicker. (Agencies)