Responding to the recommendations of the President's Commission on Implementation of United States Space Exploration Policy, NASA is teaming with the National Academies of Sciences and Engineering to evaluate and explore opportunities created by the Space Exploration Vision.

In letters to the Academies, NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe has asked the president's of the Academies to engage the scientific community in a re-evaluation of priorities and to consider how machines and humans, used separately and in tandem, can maximize the scientific returns of America's space program.

"The President's Commission recently delivered its final report to NASA. As part of their thoughtful review of our Vision, they recommended we bring in the best and brightest our nation has to help create a roadmap for implementation of our mission. I've asked the National Academies to help us in this important effort," O'Keefe said. "I look forward to their findings and recommendations," he added.

The President's Commission on Implementation of the U.S. Space Policy delivered their findings to NASA in June. The blue ribbon panel was charged with giving NASA guidance as to how to implement a future for NASA that will provide inspiration, innovation and discovery as the agency transforms itself for the 21st Century.

Dr. Charles Elachi, Director of Advanced Planning at NASA and Director of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif., will lead the team that will engage the academies in this effort. The team will benefit from the strong ties that NASA has with the Academies, and will greatly gain from the deep body of knowledge the experts of those institutions bring to the table.