Why We Explore

why do we explore?
Why Do We Explore?

From the time of our birth, humans have felt a primordial urge to explore -- to blaze new trails, map new lands, and answer profound questions about ourselves and our universe.

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Exploration History

Image from the moon during Apollo 12 mission.
This Month in Exploration

Visit every month to find out how aviation and space exploration have improved life for humans on Earth and in space.

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Conferences and Speeches

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Exploration Related Events

Find past speeches and conference materials here!

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Exploration at NASA

    Exploration at NASA At the core of NASA's future space exploration is a return to the moon, where we will build a sustainable long term human presence.

    As the space shuttle approaches retirement and the International Space Station nears completion, NASA is building the next fleet of vehicles to bring astronauts back to the moon, and possibly to Mars and beyond.

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LCROSS Impact Data Indicates Water on Moon

The Visible camera image showing the ejecta plume at about 20 seconds after impact.

Preliminary data from the Lunar CRater Observation and Sensing Satellite indicates that the mission successfully uncovered water during the Oct. 9, 2009, impacts near the moon's south pole.

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NASA EDGE Nominated for Best Video Podcast

Vote Now for NASA Edge in the Podcast Awards!

Help NASA EDGE win this prestigious podcast award by voting for NASA EDGE in the Best Video Podcast category. Voting ends Nov 30!

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Ares I-X Rocket Completes Successful Flight Test

Ares I-X Launches!

Liftoff! The Ares I-X test rocket launched at 11:30 a.m. EDT Wednesday from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida for a two-minute powered flight.

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More Featured Stories

  • Ares I-X on launch pad with Shuttle in background.

    Ares I-X Launch Rescheduled for Oct. 28

    Ares I-X will have another four-hour window to launch beginning at 8 a.m. EDT on Wednesday, Oct. 28, after weather concerns delayed the first opportunity on Oct. 27.

  • Rollout of the Ares I-X rocket

    Building an Original

    A small, dedicated team showcases NASA's entrepreneurial spirit with the assembly and rollout of the Ares I-X rocket.

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