National Aeronautics and Space Administration

America leading the world in 

space exploration and scientific discovery
Strengthening U.S. 

economy through 

science and technology 

investments

Advancing U.S. leadership in space 

exploration and scientific discovery

Improving life on 

Earth and protecting 

our planet

Advancing Aeronautics and 

Space Activities for Benefit 

of American taxpayer
Advancing 

Aeronautics and 

Space Activities for 

Benefit of American 

taxpayer

Efficient and 

Affordable 

Strategies

Commercial and 

International 

Partnerships

Technology 

and Innovation

World-Class

Capabilities

Strengthening U.S. 

economy through 

science and technology 

investments

Advancing U.S. leadership in space 

exploration and scientific discovery

Improving life on 

Earth and protecting 

our planet
Advancing Aeronautics and 

Space Activities for the Benefit of Humankind

Commercial and 

International Partnerships

Technology and 

Innovation

World-Class 

Capabilities

Efficient and

Affordable Strategies
NASA Capabilities Forum July 14-15 2010 NASA Internal Use-Only

An Integrated Investment Strategy
NASA Capabilities Forum July 14-15 2010 NASA Internal Use-Only

AERONAUTICS

Understanding and Protecting Earth

Developing innovative tools 

and technologies for air traffic 

management and aircraft 

concepts to make aviation 

safer, cleaner, and more 

efficient, reducing aviation's 

impact on the Earth.

Advance knowledge of Earth as 

a system to meet the challenges 

of environmental change and to 

improve life on our planet.

EARTH SCIENCE
NASA Capabilities Forum July 14-15 2010 NASA Internal Use-Only

COMMERCIAL CREW

Conducting Valuable Research in Space

Driving a new aerospace 

economy through innovative 

new ways to safely and costeffectively launch cargo and 

astronauts from American soil.

Expanding the human sphere 

and international cooperation to 

space, performing research we 

can't duplicate on Earth and 

testing technologies for future 

missions.

INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION
NASA Capabilities Forum July 14-15 2010 NASA Internal Use-Only

Extending Human Reach Into Deep Space

SLS and Orion MPCV

Pushing the boundaries of 

human space exploration 

and developing a new rocket 

and crew vehicle to enable 

humans to explore farther 

than ever before, including a 

future mission to Mars.

Space Technologies Asteroid Strategy

Innovating, developing, 

testing and flying hardware 

for use in future science and 

exploration missions --

providing solutions for our 

nation's future.

Supporting an integrated 

exploration plan to 

accelerate a human mission 

to an asteroid on a path 

towards Mars while 

implementing innovative 

methods to engage a broad 

community of participants in 

protecting the planet.
NASA Capabilities Forum July 14-15 2010 NASA Internal Use-Only

Exploring Our Solar System And Beyond

Heliophysics

Understand the sun and its 

interactions with Earth and 

the solar system.

Determine the content, 

origin, and evolution of the 

solar system and the 

potential for life elsewhere.

Launch missions such as 

JWST to unravel the 

mysteries of the universe, 

explore how it began and 

evolved, and search for 

life on planets around 

other stars.

Planetary Astrophysics