NASA DEBRIEFING

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NASA DEBRIEFING

• A little background information for our NASA
  debate

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What is NASAs mission?

• NASA's mission is to pioneer the future in space
  exploration, scientific discovery, and
  aeronautics research. www.nasa.gov
• Specifically, NASA wants to accomplish the
  following
• Implement a sustained and affordable human and
  robotic program to explore the solar system and
  beyond
• Extend human presence across the solar system,
  starting with a human return to the Moon by the
  year 2020, in preparation for human exploration
  of Mars and other destinations
• Develop the innovative technologies, knowledge,
  and infrastructures both to explore and to
  support decisions about destinations for human
  exploration and
• Promote international and commercial
  participation in exploration to further U.S.
  scientific, security and economic interests.
• Heres the translation of those four goals

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What is NASAs mission?

• NASA wants to
• Continue exploring our solar system while
  avoiding unnecessary spending
• Send people further into space, starting with
  returning to the Moon (http//www.nasa.gov/directo
  rates/esmd/home/index.html)
• Develop new technologies and ideas that will help
  all areas of human exploration
• Help U.S. scientific, security, and economic
  interests

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How does NASA work to achieve these goals?

• NASA has large directorates that are
  responsible for different aspects of meeting
  NASAs 4 major goals
• Work for NASA is carried out at various centers
  around the country

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What major groups make up NASA?

• Science Mission Directorate
• Exploration Systems Directorate
• Aeronautics Research Directorate
• Space Operations Directorate
• Cross-Agency Support
• Inspector General

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Science Mission Directorate

• Oversees the basic areas
• Studying Earth from space
• Learning more about the origin and history of the
  solar system
• Searching for life elsewhere
• Better understanding the resources and hazards in
  space
• Studying the Sun and its effects on Earth and the
  solar system
• Searching for Earth-like planets
• http//www.science.hq.nasa.gov/

Aqua Satellite
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Exploration Systems Mission Directorate

• Oversees the basic areas
• Developing systems that will support human
  exploration (Orion and Ares to take people and
  cargo to the Moon and beyond)
• Researching technology necessary for the
  development of Orion and Ares
• http//www.nasa.gov/directorates/esmd/home/index.h
  tml

Orion
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Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate

• Oversees the basic areas
• Aeronautical (flight) research
• Improve vehicle and air system safety and
  performance
• http//www.aeronautics.nasa.gov/

Sonic boom research
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Space Operations Mission Directorate

• Oversees the basic areas
• Operation of the space shuttle program
• Responsible for U.S. work on the International
  Space Station (ISS)
• The space shuttles are currently our only vehicle
  for carrying humans into space
• http//www.hq.nasa.gov/osf/

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Cross Agency Support Program

• Oversees the basic areas
• Providing funding to education and educators to
  help prepare the next wave of NASA employees and
  strengthen U.S. science, engineering, math, and
  technology
• Partner with businesses to help spur economic
  growth and development of new technology
• http//education.nasa.gov/home/index.html

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Inspector Generals Office

• Oversees the basic areas
• Prevents and detects crime and fraud
• Helps ensure efficient use of funding
• http//www.hq.nasa.gov/office/oig/hq/

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The Debate

• You will be a member of a team that works for a
  directorate of NASA or for the committee to
  approve NASAs budget
• You will all be meeting together (the debate will
  be held on Wednesday, 10/17) to decide how to
  divide 17.3 billion budget for 2008

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The Debate

• You will be given a role card that provides you
  more details about what your group does and some
  questions to help you prepare for the debate
• We will be working down in the Willow space
  tomorrow
• You can look up more about your group on the NASA
  web site
• Perhaps make a very short PowerPoint presentation
  to help convince the budget committee of your
  importance
• Prepare for the debate with your team

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The Debate

• To help Ms. VH form balanced teams, please answer
  the following on a separate piece of paper
• How much would you like to speak during the
  debate? A little Average A lot
• Which 3 groups look most interesting to you?
  (Science, Exploration Systems, Aeronautics
  Research, Cross Agency Support, Inspector
  General, Budget Committee)
• Would you rather be on offense, defense, or a
  referee during the debate?

All images used in this presentation are courtesy
of www.nasa.gov