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Why We Explore
Why Do We Explore?
From the time of our birth, humans have felt a primordial urge to explore -- to blaze new trails, map new lands, and answer profound questions about ourselves and our universe.
Exploration History
This Month in Exploration
Visit every month to find out how aviation and space exploration have improved life for humans on Earth and in space.
Conferences and Speeches
Meet Our Team
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Douglas R. Cooke
Associate Administrator for Exploration Systems
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Laurie A. Leshin
Deputy Associate Administrator for Exploration Systems
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Advisory Committees and Boards
Internal and external advisory groups that provide advice to ESMD.
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ESMD Organizational Structure
ESMD makes full use of the Agency's human capital expertise, with its programs, projects, elements, and integration responsibilities distributed across all NASA Centers.
In Depth
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Frequently Asked Questions answered by ESMD
08.11.09 - NASA's Exploration Systems Mission Directorate answers frequently asked questions about exploration.
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Exploration 101
11.06.08 - NASA's 101 lesson on the future of space exploration.
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The ESMD Mission
ESMD's Mission statement and background on where we came from.
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How We Got Here
A brief explanation of how ESMD began
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ESMD Implementation Plan
08.20.07 - The ESMD Implementation Plan communicates our approach for achieving the Agency's ambitious exploration goals.
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International Space Life Sciences Working Group
The International Space Life Sciences Working Group seeks to identify the mutual interests and programmatic compatibilities of the various member agencies.