Future spacecraft may be made from the stuff of race cars, business jets and high-end sports equipment.
- NASA Home
- > Exploration
- > Home
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
Exploration at NASA
At the core of NASA's future in space exploration is a return to the moon, where we will build a sustainable long term human presence. As the space shuttle approaches retirement, NASA is building the next fleet of vehicles to service the International Space Station and return humans to the moon, and possibly to Mars and beyond. In support of these efforts, ESMD is performing field tests, designing surface systems and conducting advanced human research to ensure that future missions are safe, sustainable and affordable.
Top Featured Stories
NASA Tests All-Composite Space Capsule
Orion Attitude Control Motor Test-fired
On Dec. 15, NASA, Alliant Techsystems and Lockheed Martin celebrated a milestone with a ground test of a full-scale attitude control motor for the Orion crew exploration vehicle’s launch abort system.
Steering the Ares Rockets on a Straight Path
What steered Ares I-X on its path as it climbed through Earth's atmosphere? The answer is a roll control system.
More Featured Stories
-
LCROSS Press Conference
Miss the Nov. 13 announcement about preliminary LCROSS results?
-
LCROSS Impact Data Indicates Water on Moon
Preliminary data from the Lunar CRater Observation and Sensing Satellite indicates that the mission successfully uncovered water during the Oct. 9, 2009, impacts near the moon's south pole.
Plug Into Exploration
 |
We're building rockets, testing rovers, meeting astronauts and having fun while capturing it all on the World Wide Web. Stay connected with America's space exploration program!
› Learn more
 "Constellation Year in Review 2009")
 "Ares Quarterly Report 14")
 "NASA Tests Orion Launch Abort System Attitude Control Motor - Low Angle")
Exploration Image Gallery
Exploration - News Releases
Exploration Related Sites
Exploration Interactives
-
Whose video will be featured next?
Submit your video answering why you think space exploration is important and it could be featured online!
-
Virtual Lunar Outpost
What kind of things do humans need to live and work on the lunar surface?
-
NASA Home and City 2.0
Do you know how to find a trace of outer space in your home and city? This updated release is loaded with new features.
-
Space Your Face!
Be a part of exploration -- one step, one "groove" at a time! Upload your photo and show friends and family your space moves!
-
Get Your EXN3D Pocket Viewfinder Downloads Here!
-
Exploration 101
NASA's 101 lesson on the future of space exploration.
-
NASA 101
A summary of NASA's many programs and projects.
-
Space in D.C.
Learn about all the space-related destinations in Washington, DC.
