On January 14, 2004, President George W. Bush gave NASA a defining challenge for the 21st century with compelling new objectives outlined in the Vision for Space Exploration. The Vision commits our Nation to a new journey of exploration of the solar system, beginning with the return of humans to the Moon by the end of the next decade, and leading to subsequent landings on Mars and other destinations, such as near-Earth asteroids.

The fundamental goal of the Vision is "to advance U.S. scientific, security, and economic interests through a robust space exploration program."

The Exploration Systems Mission Directorate (ESMD) is dedicated to creating a constellation of new capabilities, supporting technologies and foundational research that enables sustained and affordable human and robotic exploration.

NASA delivers a comprehensive Agency education portfolio, implemented by the Office of Education, the Mission Directorates, and the NASA Field Centers. Through the portfolio, NASA contributes to our Nation's efforts in achieving excellence in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education. Three outcomes serve to align all Agency education activities. This project maps to Outcome 1: Contributing to the development of the STEM workforce in disciplines needed to achieve NASA's strategic goals.

The purpose of the ESMD Higher Education Grants is to train and develop the highly skilled scientific, engineering, and technical workforce of the future needed to implement the Vision for Space Exploration.

The following are areas critical to the future of space exploration:

Spacecraft

Guidance, navigation and control; thermal; electrical; structures; software; avionics; high speed re-entry; modeling; power systems; interoperability/commonality; advanced spacecraft materials; crew/vehicle health monitoring; life support.

Propulsion

Propulsion methods that will utilize materials found on the moon or Mars, "green" propellants, on-orbit propellant storage, motors, testing, fuels, manufacturing, soft landing, throttleable propellants, high performance, and descent.

Lunar and Planetary Surface Systems

Precision landing hardware, software, in-situ resource utilization (ISRU), navigation systems, extended surface operations, robotics, environmental analysis, radiation protection, spacesuits, life support, power systems.

Ground Operations

Pre-launch, launch, mission operations, command and control software systems, communications, landing and recovery.

We have multiple ways that we are working to engage our students, faculty and other associated members. View the links on the upper left to see what those methods are.

Our ESMD students are our Future!

Join us in our mission, to bring us to the Moon, Mars & beyond!