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| |  | | | Education and NASA's Vision and Mission
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07.18.06
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On Jan. 14, 2004, President George W. Bush announced "A Renewed Spirit of Discovery: The President's Vision for U.S. Space Exploration," a new directive for the nation's space program. The fundamental goal of this directive is "to advance U.S. scientific, security and economic interests through a robust space exploration program."
In issuing it, the president committed the nation to a journey of exploring the solar system and beyond: returning to the moon in the next decade, then venturing further into the solar system, ultimately sending humans to Mars and beyond. He challenged NASA to establish new and innovative programs to enhance understanding of the planets, to ask new questions and to answer questions that are as old as humankind.
NASA is committed to achieving this Vision and to making all changes necessary to ensure success. In order to carry out the Vision over the coming years and decades, NASA will need the participation of future generations of scientists and engineers. Toward that end, the agency will continue its tradition of investing in the nation's education programs and supporting the country's educators, who play a key role in preparing, inspiring, exciting, encouraging and nurturing the young minds of today, who will manage and lead the nation's laboratories and research centers of tomorrow.
NASA will pursue three major education goals:
- Strengthen NASA and the nation's future workforce -- NASA will identify and develop the critical skills and capabilities needed to ensure achievement of the Vision for Space Exploration. To help meet this demand, NASA will continue contributing to the development of the nation's science, technology, engineering and mathematics, or STEM, workforce of the future through a diverse portfolio of education initiatives that target America's students of all levels, especially those in traditionally underserved and underrepresented communities.
- Attract and retain students in STEM disciplines -- To compete effectively for the minds, imaginations, and career ambitions of America's young people, NASA will focus on engaging and retaining students in STEM education programs to encourage their pursuit of educational disciplines critical to NASA's future engineering, scientific and technical missions.
- Engage Americans in NASA's mission -- NASA will build strategic partnerships and linkages between STEM formal and informal education providers. Through hands-on, interactive, educational activities, NASA will engage students, educators, families, the general public and all agency stakeholders to increase Americans' science and technology literacy.
As the United States begins the second century of flight, the nation must maintain its commitment to excellence in STEM education to ensure that the next generation of Americans can accept the full measure of their roles and responsibilities in shaping the future.
2006 NASA Strategic Plan
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