Mars a rich destination for scientific discovery.
As we expand our presence into the solar system with robotic and human exploration
The formation and evolution of Mars will help us learn more about our own planet's history
and future.
In its past the Red Planet had conditions suitable for life, and future exploration
may uncover evidence of life, answering one of the fundamental mysteries of humanity:
Does life exist beyond Earth?
At NASA, we're reaching for new heights so we remain the world's leader in
space...
We're pioneers and we always have been.
And we're building on that pioneering sprit in science and technology
so that we make the world a better place, so we create jobs right here on earth.
NASA is developing the capabilities needed to send humans to an asteroid by 2025 and
to Mars in the 2030s.
We're building something that can go lunar, something that can go to an
asteroid, we can go to Mars with this, this is the next step we've been looking
for since the Apollo era.
Robotic explorers have studied Mars for more than 40 years.
NASA's path for the human exploration of Mars begins in low-Earth orbit aboard the International
Space Station.
Onboard the orbiting laboratory, astronauts are helping us prove many of the technologies
and communications systems needed for human missions into deep space.
Well the crews right now on International Space Station are using this wonderful
outpost to help us get further and further into space, to asteroids, to Mars
eventually, I think the science on station is
making incredible breakthroughs that are going to help us make life better for
people right here on Earth.
We and our other international partner crewmates are working off the planet for
the planet.
NASA, along with our international partners, conduct scientific research
every day here on the station.
We use this orbiting laboratory as a stepping-stone for
future deep space exploration.
In tandem with space station research...
NASA will send a robotic mission to capture and redirect an asteroid to orbit the moon.
Astronauts aboard NASA's Orion spacecraft will explore the asteroid and return to Earth
with samples.
This experience will help NASA test new systems and capabilities, such as Solar Electric Propulsion,
which will send cargo as part of human missions to Mars.
NASA's new Space Launch System rocket will enable these "proving ground" missions to
test new capabilities.
Human missions to Mars will rely on Orion and an evolved version of the Space Launch
System, which will be the most powerful rocket ever flown.
With Orion and our heavy-lift Space Launch System... we're going to send
humans into space farther than they've ever gone before.
This year's Orion test flight will be the most aggressive human spacecraft flight
in more than forty years!
Apollo happened before I was born so this, for our generation, will be the
exploration missions that we get to see in our lifetime.
A fleet of robotic spacecraft and rovers already are on and around Mars, dramatically increasing
our knowledge about the Red Planet and paving the way for future human explorers.
Future missions seeking signs of past life will demonstrate new technologies that could
help astronauts survive on Mars.
I think some of the most amazing things that we are learning is actually how to be
really good detectives on another planet which is a really difficult job.
Engineers and scientists around the country are working hard to develop the technologies
astronauts will use to one day live and work on Mars... and then safely return home from
the next giant leap for humanity.
Through advanced aerospace technologies, used in everything from
modern aircraft to suborbital rockets and the commercial vehicles servicing low
Earth orbit today, we're building the machines to take us further into the high
frontier.
NASA is here to raise the bar for human achievement.
We are a community dedicated to research and discovery in service to
society.
We have a responsibility to the future generations of engineers, the future
generations of engineers, scientists, technologists, explorers, that's our
challenge.