Image from NASA site

Two planned configurations for a return to the moon, heavy lift (left) and crew (right)

The Vision for Space Exploration is the United States space policy announced on January 14, 2004 by President George W. Bush. It is seen as a response to the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster, the state of human spaceflight at NASA, and a way to regain public enthusiasm for space exploration. Image File history File links File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (681x790, 58 KB) Summary An engineering concept shows NASAs new heavy lift and crew launch vehicles. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (681x790, 58 KB) Summary An engineering concept shows NASAs new heavy lift and crew launch vehicles. ... Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to: Space Attempting to understand the nature of space has always been a prime occupation for philosophers and scientists. ... A policy is a plan of action for tackling issues. ... January 14 is the 14th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... George Walker Bush (born July 6, 1946) is the 43rd and current President of the United States. ... Shuttle debris falling over Texas, on Time cover The Space Shuttle Columbia disaster was the disintegration of the Space Shuttle Columbia over Texas on February 1, 2003, during reentry into the Earths atmosphere on its 28th mission, STS-107. ... Human spaceflight is space exploration with a human crew, and possibly passengers (in contrast to dog-manned space missions, which are remotely-controlled or robotic space probes). ... NASA logo Listen to this article · (info) This audio file was created from an article revision dated 2005-09-01, and does not reflect subsequent edits to the article. ...

The Vision calls for the space program to:

• Complete the International Space Station (by 2010)
• Retire the Space Shuttle (by 2010)
• Develop the Crew Exploration Vehicle (by 2008) and conduct its first manned mission (by 2012)
• Develop the Shuttle Derived Launch Vehicles
• Explore the moon with unmanned missions (by 2008) and manned missions (by 2020)
• Explore Mars and other destinations with unmanned and manned missions

When the Vision was announced in January 2004, the U.S. Congress and the scientific community gave it a mix of positive and negative reviews. For example, Rep. Dave Weldon (R-Fla.) said, "I think this is the best thing that has happened to the space program in decades," while physicist Robert L. Park said that robotic spacecraft "are doing so well it's going to be hard to justify sending a human." [1]. ISS Statistics Crew: 2 As of August 21, 2005 Perigee: 352. ... For the film, see 2010: The Year We Make Contact. ... The Space Shuttle Columbia seconds after engine ignition, 1981 (NASA). ... For the film, see 2010: The Year We Make Contact. ... Boeings early CEV concept CEV with lunar lander The Crew Exploration Vehicle is NASAs proposed series of human spaceflight spacecraft, intended to supersede the space shuttle system. ... 2008 (MMVIII) will a Leap year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 2012 (MMXII) will be a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Comparison of the Saturn V, Space Shuttle and the two proposed Shuttle Derived Launch Vehicles. ... Crust composition Oxygen 43% Silicon 21% Aluminium 10% Calcium 9% Iron 9% Magnesium 5% Titanium 2% Nickel 0. ... Unmanned space missions are those using remote-controlled spacecraft. ... 2008 (MMVIII) will a Leap year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Human spaceflight is space exploration with a human crew, and possibly passengers (in contrast to dog-manned space missions, which are remotely-controlled or robotic space probes). ... 2020 (MMXX) will be a leap year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun in the solar system, named after the Roman god of war (the counterpart of the Greek Ares), on account of its blood red color as viewed in the night sky. ... Unmanned space missions are those using remote-controlled spacecraft. ... Human spaceflight is space exploration with a human crew, and possibly passengers (in contrast to dog-manned space missions, which are remotely-controlled or robotic space probes). ... The Congress of the United States is the legislative branch of the federal government of the United States of America. ... David Joseph Weldon, M.D., (born August 31, 1953), American politician, has been a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives since 1995, representing the 15th District of Florida. ... Robert L. Park is a professor of physics at the University of Maryland, College Park. ...

Others, such as the Mars Society have argued that it makes more sense to avoid going back to the moon and instead focus on going to Mars first. Mars Society FAQ Mars Society logo. ...

In a position paper issued by the National Space Society (NSS), a return to the Moon should be considered a high space program priority, in order to begin development of the knowledge and identification of the industries unique to the Moon. The Moon is a repository of the history and possible future of our planet, and the six Apollo landings only scratched the surface of that treasure. National Space Society logo The National Space Society (NSS) is an international nonprofit 501(c)(3), educational, and scientific organization specializing in space advocacy. ... Apollo Program insignia Project Apollo was a series of human spaceflight missions undertaken by the United States of America using the Apollo spacecraft and Saturn launch vehicle, conducted during the years 1961–1972. ...

According to NSS, the Moon's far side, permanently shielded from the noisy Earth, is an ideal site for future radio astronomy. Unique products may be producible in the nearly limitless extreme vacuum of the lunar surface, and the Moon's remoteness is the ultimate isolation for biologically hazardous experiments. Microwave image of 3C353 galaxy at 8. ... For other uses, see vacuum cleaner and Vacuum (musical group). ...

Lunar resources include most if not all raw materials available on Earth. The Moon can serve as a proving ground for a wide range of space operations and processes, including developments toward in-situ or "living off the land" (i.e., self-sufficiency) for permanent human outposts.

Initial return missions as recently proposed by the President and NASA can be done through space operations using the existing launch infrastructure and assets developed by the shuttle and International Space Station programs, plus existing expendable launch vehicles, with a minimum of new R&D programs. The lessons learned from international cooperation during ISS construction and operations can be improved upon and extended to human missions to the Moon, Mars and elsewhere. ISS Statistics Crew: 2 As of August 21, 2005 Perigee: 352. ... Crust composition Oxygen 43% Silicon 21% Aluminium 10% Calcium 9% Iron 9% Magnesium 5% Titanium 2% Nickel 0. ... For the Roman god, see Mars (god). ...

Initial missions could place scientific equipment on the Moon and return samples from areas never explored, such as the polar regions. Extent of water and other volatiles important to lunar industrialization could be determined. As future reusable launch systems begin operations, reducing cost and enabling higher flight rates, Earth-Moon traffic can become routine. With humans on the Moon again, NASA's space activities would take on new vigor and public interest. Crust composition Oxygen 43% Silicon 21% Aluminium 10% Calcium 9% Iron 9% Magnesium 5% Titanium 2% Nickel 0. ...

Throughout much of 2004 it was unclear whether the U.S. Congress would be willing to approve and fund the Vision for Space Exploration. However, in November 2004, Congress passed an omnibus spending bill which gave NASA all but $44 million of the amount President Bush had sought to kick-start the Vision. According to then-NASA chief Sean O'Keefe, that spending bill “was as strong an endorsement [of the space exploration vision] as any of us could have imagined.” [2] The Congress of the United States is the legislative branch of the federal government of the United States of America. ... Sean OKeefe (born January 27, 1956) was the 10th Administrator of NASA, leading the space agency from December 2001 to February 2005. ...

The new NASA Administrator, Michael Griffin, who took office in April 2005, is a big supporter of the Vision, but has also modified it somewhat, saying that he wants to reduce the four year gap between the retirement of the Space Shuttle and the first manned mission of the Crew Exploration Vehicle. [3] Dr.Michael D. Griffin Dr. Michael Douglas Griffin (born November 1, 1949 in Aberdeen, Maryland) is the current NASA Administrator. ... Look up April in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Boeings early CEV concept CEV with lunar lander The Crew Exploration Vehicle is NASAs proposed series of human spaceflight spacecraft, intended to supersede the space shuttle system. ...

See also

• Crew Exploration Vehicle
• Exploration Systems Architecture Study
• Human spaceflight
• Project Constellation
• Space advocacy
• Space exploration

Boeings early CEV concept CEV with lunar lander The Crew Exploration Vehicle is NASAs proposed series of human spaceflight spacecraft, intended to supersede the space shuttle system. ... The Exploration Systems Architecture Study (ESAS) is the official title of a large-scale, system level study conducted by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) during the Summer of 2005 in response to President George W. Bushs announcement on January 14, 2004 to return astronauts to the Moon... Human spaceflight is space exploration with a human crew, and possibly passengers (in contrast to dog-manned space missions, which are remotely-controlled or robotic space probes). ... Boeings CEV concept The Crew Exploration Vehicle (CEV) is NASAs proposed series of human spaceflight spacecraft, intended to replace the space shuttle system. ... Space advocacy is a political position that favors the exploration, utilization, and colonization of outer space. ... Space exploration is the physical exploration of outer space objects and generally anything that involves the technologies, science, and politics regarding space endeavors. ...

External links

• NASA: The Vision for Space Exploration
• White House: A Renewed Spirit of Discovery
• President's Commission on Implementation of United States Space Exploration Policy
• NASA: Exploration Systems
• National Space Society - non-profit organization that promotes a spacefaring civilization