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Banner: A Renewed Spirit of Discovery
Space Exploration: A Renewed Spirit of Discovery
President George W. Bush greets shuttle astronauts from right, Peggy Whitson, Stephanie Wilson, and John Grunsfeld, and Ellen Ochoa at NASA headquarters in Washington, D.C., Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2004. 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.
President George W. Bush greets shuttle astronauts from right, Peggy Whitson, Stephanie Wilson, and John Grunsfeld, and Ellen Ochoa at NASA headquarters in Washington, D.C., Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2004. 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.
 
President George W. Bush smiles as he waves goodbye to the crew of the Space Shuttle Discovery Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2005, during a phone call from the Roosevelt Room of the White House. Before bidding the crew Godspeed and telling them to "get back to work," the President thanked them for being "risk-takers for the sake of exploration." Laura Bush applauds as she folllows the launch of the Space Shuttle Discovery, Tuesday, July 26, 2005, at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida. Mrs. Bush is joined by Florida Governor Jeb Bush, right, and NASA Astronaut Scott Altman, left.
The Space Shuttle Discovery launches Tuesday, July 26, 2005, at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida. President George W. Bush watches the launch of the Space Shuttle Discovery in the Oval Office.s Private Dining Room Tuesday, July 26, 2005.
Vice President Dick Cheney meets with astronauts Dan Bursch, left, Carl Walz, center, Frank Culbertson and NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe, who is not pictured, at NASA Headquarters in Washington, D.C., Wednesday, Nov. 20. Mr. Bursch and Mr. Walz hold the U.S. space endurance record for spending 196 days in space. Congratulating NASA on the successful landing of Spirit, the Mars Exploration Rover, President George W. Bush talks with NASA Administrator Sean O.Keefe and the Mission Control Team from the Oval Office Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2004.
Vice President Dick Cheney swears in NASA Administrator Michael Griffin as his wife, Rebecca Griffin, holds the Bible during a ceremony in the Vice President's Ceremonial Office at the Dwight D. Eisenhower Executive Office Building Tuesday, June 28, 2005. Mr. Griffin is the 11th Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. President George W. Bush shares a laugh with members of the International Space Station Expedition 6 Crew during their photo opportunity in the Oval Office Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2003. From left, are, Russian Flight Engineer Nikolai Budarin, Science Officer Donald Pettit, and Commander Kenneth Bowersox. Also pictured in background is NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe.
President George W. Bush welcomes Apollo 11 Astronauts Michael Collins, left, Neil Armstrong, center, and Buzz Aldrin to the Oval Office Wednesday, July 21, 2004. The astronauts visited the White House to mark the 35th anniversary of the successful Apollo 11 mission of landing on the moon, walking along its surface and safely returning home. Honoring the seven astronauts who lost their lives aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2003, the American flag continues to be flown at half-staff over the White House Monday, Feb. 3. President George W. Bush has directed the government to fly the flag at half-staff through Wednesday, Feb. 5.
Reviewing a report about the Space Shuttle Columbia tragedy, President George W. Bush meets with NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe in the Oval Office Monday, Feb. 3, 2003. President George W. Bush delivers remarks on U.S. Space Policy at NASA headquarters in Washington, D.C., Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2004. 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.
President George W. Bush greets shuttle astronauts from right, Peggy Whitson, Stephanie Wilson, and John Grunsfeld, and Ellen Ochoa at NASA headquarters in Washington, D.C., Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2004. 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. President George W. Bush and NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe watch as Michael Foale, right, commander of the International Space Station welcomes the President during a live television link from space at NASA headquarters in Washington, D.C., Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2004.
Vice President Dick Cheney looks at a replica of NASA's rover Spirit while touring the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif., Jan. 14, 2004. Spirit, developed and controlled at the laboratory, will explore Mars' Gusev Crater to determine whether the planet ever contained water and if it could sustain life. After congratulating NASA staff on the successful landing of the robotic rover Spirit on Mars, Vice President Dick Cheney holds up a shirt bearing the Spirit emblem at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasedena, Calif., Jan. 14, 2004.
Vice President Dick Cheney shakes hands with NASA staff at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif., Jan. 14, 2004. Vice President Dick Cheney listens to a briefing on NASA's Spirit and Opportunity Expeditions to Mars in the Jet Propulsion Laboratory's mission control room in Pasadena, Calif., Jan. 14, 2004. JPL developed and now remotely controls the rover Spirit since it landed on the planet Jan. 3, 2004. Sitting next to Vice President Cheney are, from left, Dr. Frederick D. Gregory, NASA Deputy Administrator, Dr. David Baltimore, President of the California Institute of Technology and Dr. Charles Elachi, the Director of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
President George W. Bush and the crew members of the Space Shuttle Discovery (STS-114) pose for news photographers in the Oval Office at the White House, Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2006. The STS-114 crew was the first U.S. Space Shuttle flight, July 26, 2005, since the February 2003 loss of the Space Shuttle Columbia. President George W. Bush stands with crew members of the Space Shuttle Discovery, the Space Shuttle Atlantis and the Space Station Expeditions 11, 12, and 13 Monday, Oct. 23, 2006, in the East Room of the White House. With the President in the front row, from left, are: Col. Steve Lindsey, Stephanie Wilson, Cmdr. Lisa Nowak, and Cmdr. Mark Kelly. Second row: Steven MacLean, Capt. Chris Ferguson, Col. Jeff Williams and Mike Fossum. Third row: Cmdr. Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper, Cmdr. Dan Burbank and Dr. Piers Sellers. Top row: Capt. Brent Jett, Jr., Col. Bill McArthur, Jr. and Joe Tanner.

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