posted 05-09-2012 10:50 AM               

The United States considers the sustainability, stability, and free access to, and use of, space vital to its national interests. In July 2011, NASA launched its final space shuttle mission and turned the page in a remarkable period in America's history in space, while beginning the next chapter in America’s extraordinary story of exploration. American leadership in space will continue to at least the next half century because the US has laid the foundation for success. NASA is not ending human space flight but rather recommitting itself and taking the necessary steps to ensure America's preeminence in space exploration for years to come. President Obama has given NASA a mission to focus again on the big picture of exploration and the crucial research and development. NASA Administrator Charles F. Bolden spoke about how NASA plans to carry out this Mission, followed by Q&A with the audience.