"U.S. Space Exploration: The Journey Continues"

ABSTRACT: The federal government's mission as stated in the Constitution is to "establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity."

Extrapolated across more than 200 years into an increasingly complex world, that broad guidance came to include things like goverment support for the exploration of the western US by Lewis and Clark, development of railroads and waterways, aeronautics, industry and research by the National Advisory Council for Aeronautics and developing civillian peaceful uses of spae by NASA.

NASA's impact on this nation has been literally incalculable.  We are a leader in advancing aeronautis, space technologies and exploration of the last frontier.  Yet today, it's popular to question NASA's mission and capabilities. 

In fact, the rumors of NASA's demise are greatly exaggerated.  The challenging and exciting engineering and science - as well as the spirit - that have always characterized NASA are alive and well.

This lecture will provide a more textured view of NASA today and the opportunities for today's students in technical fields.  NASA is continuing the journey that began with its founding in 1958, including development of the next great ship of exploration, the Space Launch System.

BIO: Patrick Scheuermann is director of NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala. Named to the position in September 2012, he heads one of NASA's largest field installations, with nearly 6,000 on and near site civil service and contractor employees -- including those at NASA's Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans -- and an annual budget of approximately $2.5 billion.  Mr. Scheuermann manages a broad range of propulsion, scientific and space transportation activities contributing to the nation's space program.

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Patrick Scheuermann

Center Director, NASA Marshall Space Flight Center