A bold new course is being charted into the cosmos, a journey that will take humans back to the Moon, and eventually to Mars and beyond.

Exploration of the solar system and beyond will be guided by compelling questions of scientific and societal importance. Exploration programs will seek profound answers to questions about the origins of our solar system, whether life exists beyond Earth, and how we could live on other worlds.

This type of space exploration calls for a combination of human and robotic missions to achieve new exploration goals. Robotic missions to the Moon will be followed by an extended human expedition as early as 2015. Lunar exploration will lay the groundwork for future exploration of Mars and other destinations. A new spacecraft to support these journeys—the Crew Exploration Vehicle—will be tested before the end of this decade.

Space exploration holds a special place in the human imagination. Youth are especially drawn to Mars rovers, astronauts, and telescopes. If used effectively and creatively, space can inspire children to seek careers in math, science, and engineering. Exploration and discovery are key agents of growth in society—technologically, economically, socially, internationally, and intellectually.

This module is a first step in engaging today's youth in space exploration and serves as an invitation to participate in the excitement of discovery.

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