"Its hazards are hostile to us all. Its conquest deserves the best of all mankind, and its opportunity for peaceful co-operation may never come again. But why, some say, the moon? Why choose this as our goal? And they may well

ask why climb the highest mountain? Why, 35 years ago, fly the Atlantic? Why does Rice play Texas? We choose to

go to the moon. We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are

easy, but because they are hard, because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies

and skills, because that challenge is one that we are will-ing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and

one which we intend to win, and the others, too."

Artificial limbs

Baby formula

Cell-phone cameras

Computer mouse

Cordless tools

Ear thermometer

Firefighter gear

Freeze-dried food

Golf clubs

Long-distance communication

Invisible braces

MRI and CAT scans

Memory foam

Safer highways

Solar panels

Shoe insoles

Ski boots

Adjustable smoke detector

Water filters

UV-blocking sunglasses

Scratch Resistant Lenses

‘Humanity's interest in the heavens has

been universal and enduring. Humans are

driven to explore the unknown, discover

new worlds, push the boundaries of our sci-

entific and technical limits, and then push

further. The intangible desire to explore and

challenge the boundaries of what we know

and where we have been has provided bene-

fits to our society for centuries.’

(NASA, Why We Explore, 2014)

There’s a question that troubles us all, from the time that we are first able to think. And that is: Where did we come from? And this question is so compel-

ling, that we’ve invented the science of astronomy. We’ve discovered these nat-ural laws, so that we can learn more about our origin and where we came

from. This is what drives us— this is what we wanna know lets keep looking lets keep searching, we have come to be because of the universe’s existence,

and we are driven to pursue that—to find out where we came from. The ‘Joy of Discovery’ that’s what drives us; and these questions are deep within us.

Where did we come from? What was before the big bang? To us this is won-derful and charming and compelling this is what makes us get up and go to

work everyday. We are—you and I— at least one of the ways that the universe knows itself. It fills me with joy to make discoveries every day of things I had never seen before. To know that we can pursue these answers. Where did we

come from?

‘Mars has always been a source of inspiration for explorers and scientists.

Robotic missions have found evidence of water, but if life exists beyond Earth still re-

mains a mystery. Robotic and scientific robotic missions have shown that Mars has char-

acteristics and a history similar to Earth's, but we know that there are striking differ-

ences that we have yet to begin to understand. Humans can build upon this knowledge

and look for signs of life and

investigate Mars' geological evolution, resulting in research and methods that could be

applied here on Earth. A mission to our nearest planetary neighbour provides the best

opportunity to demonstrate that humans can live for extended, even permanent, stays

beyond low Earth orbit. The

technology and space systems required to transport and sustain explorers will drive in-

novation and encourage

creative ways to address challenges. As previous space endeavours have demonstrated,

the resulting ingenuity and technologies will have long

lasting benefits and applications.

The challenge of traveling to Mars and learning how to live there will

encourage nations around the world to work together to achieve such an

ambitious undertaking. The International Space station has shown that

opportunities for collaboration will highlight our common interests and

provide a global sense of community.’