The challenge of human exploration

The new U.S. space policy has as its goal the expansion of human activity and presence beyond low-earth orbit and into the solar system. This paper addresses the approach and initial steps that have been taken toward this goal. Studies being undertaken to identify the requirements to achieve the goal are addressed, and the main themes involved in the exploration of space are described. Exploration strategies and scenarios involving human expeditions, scientific outposts in space, and evolutionary expansion into space are examined. A human space exploration roadmap is shown.