[meteorite-list] Next Generation of Explorers Takes the Stage

[Ron Baalke]

August 20, 2013

Joshua Buck
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1100
jbuck at nasa.gov 
     
RELEASE 13-258

Next Generation of Explorers Takes the Stage

NASA, International Community United in Support of Bold Space Exploration Program

NASA Administrator Charles Bolden on Tuesday formally welcomed the eight  
newest candidates to the astronaut corps and unveiled a space exploration  
roadmap that makes clear the global community is working together on a  
unified deep space exploration strategic plan, with robotic and human  
missions to destinations that include near-Earth asteroids, the moon and  
Mars.

At NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, the members of the 2013 astronaut  
class spoke with reporters about their new roles and their desire to help the  
agency push the boundaries of exploration and travel to new destinations in  
the solar system. These next-generation American astronauts will be among  
those who will have the opportunity to fly on new commercial space  
transportation systems that are now under development. They also will be  
among those to plan and perhaps carry out the first-ever human missions to an  
asteroid and Mars.

"This class joins a distinguished and elite group of Americans who have  
carried out historic missions to the moon, deployed space telescopes and  
built an orbiting laboratory the size of a football field, where U.S.  
astronauts have continuously lived, worked and conducted research for more  
than a dozen years now," said Bolden. "They are being asked to carry on this  
extraordinary legacy and ensure the United States remains the world's leader  
in exploration and scientific discovery -- carrying with them America's  
hopes, dreams and curiosity deep into space, first to an asteroid and one day  
on to Mars."

The 2013 astronaut candidate class comes from a pool of 6,000 applicants, the  
second largest in NASA history. Half of the selectees are women, making this  
the highest percentage of female astronaut candidates ever selected for a  
single class. The group will participate in extensive technical training at  
space centers and remote locations around the world to prepare for missions  
beyond low-Earth orbit.

Bolden also spoke about the updated Global Exploration Roadmap (GER),  
released publicly Tuesday. The roadmap reflects the work of 12 space agencies  
of the International Space Exploration Coordination Group. It highlights the  
international space community's shared interest in pursuing deep space  
exploration and reflects the degree of international cooperation on a unified  
deep space exploration strategic roadmap.

The shared global vision, as laid out in the GER, includes:
-- an examination of the critical part the International Space Station plays  
in deep space exploration;
-- robotic and human missions to destinations that include near-Earth  
asteroids, the moon and Mars;
-- validation of the vital role of NASA's asteroid mission in advancing the  
capabilities needed to explore Mars and the economic and societal value such  
exploration can bring; and
-- a conceptual scenario that demonstrates how missions in the lunar  
vicinity, including NASA's asteroid initiative, pave the way for  
international missions to Mars in the 2030s, while enabling important  
discoveries along the way.

For more information about the astronaut candidates, their photos and details  
on the astronaut selection process, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/2013astroclass 

To view the Global Exploration Roadmap, visit:

http://go.nasa.gov/1d0cShx 

For information about the International Space Exploration Coordination Group,  
visit:

http://www.globalspaceexploration.org 

For information about NASA and human exploration, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/exploration 

-end-