NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration

This new era in human exploration will propel the nation on a new journey of innovation and discovery. Groundbreaking new technologies will enable exploration of new frontiers and increase our understanding of the Earth, our solar system and the universe beyond. Further collaboration with international partners on the International Space Station will increase NASA's return on investment and provide a technology test-bed and national laboratory for human health research.

NASA does not intend to embark on this new journey alone. NASA and commercial and international partnerships will together benefit from a collective spirit of discovery and adventure, and will reduce the cost of space exploration by employing new business practices and leveraging common goals. NASA also invites citizen stakeholders to participate and share in the excitement of space exploration through upcoming initiatives designed to educate as well as glean new, creative ideas from standard and unconventional contributors.

Read more about the new programs that are proposed to develop and implement the strategies for the new direction below. Plans will continue to evolve with the next step of House and Senate appropriations. To learn more about the FY 2012 budget and get the latest status updates, please visit www.nasa.gov/budget.

The President's FY 2012 Budget Request to Congress ensures that Exploration Systems Mission Directorate's (ESMD) goals are consistent with the NASA Authorization Act of 2010, which calls for expanding permanent human presence beyond low Earth orbit (LEO) to destinations such as the surface of the moon, near-earth asteroids, and Mars, while maintaining uninterrupted U.S. human spaceflight capability in LEO and beyond.