President Bush announced a new vision for the Nation's space exploration program. The President committed the United States to a long-term human and robotic program to explore the solar system, starting with a return to the Moon that will ultimately enable future exploration of Mars and other destinations.
"Our second goal is to develop and test a new spacecraft, the Crew Exploration Vehicle, by 2011, and to conduct the first manned mission no later than 2017. The Crew Exploration Vehicle will be capable of ferrying astronauts and scientists to the Space Station after the shuttle is retired. But the main purpose of this spacecraft will be to carry astronauts beyond our orbit to other worlds. This will be the first spacecraft of its kind since the Apollo Command Module. "
+ Announcement Summary (White House)
+ Renewed Spirit of Discovery (Policy Directive) (White House)
+ Transcript of Bush's Speech (White House)
+ NASA's Future: Exploration and Discovery (NASA)