Bush: I support the International Space Station and believe that we must ensure that it becomes operational in the near term. At the same time, I believe that the ISS provides important lessons that should govern whether or not we enter into similar international space projects in the future. Such lessons include establishing at the outset very clear and concise criteria for the project's success, as well as compelling goals that the American taxpayer can use to judge whether the project advanced our nation's overall interests in space. Also, it is important that the project be structured so that it is not captive to the successful contribution of any one foreign partner.

Bush: Space has proven to be a wonderful source of motivation to get our nation's students to focus on mastering their skills in math and the various sciences. Beyond that, I would encourage our nation's schools to take full advantage of the magnificent imagery and breakthroughs in space knowledge that have come from NASA's orbiting observatories, including the incredible work being produced by the Hubble and Chandra Space Telescopes.

Furthermore, students should be introduced to the insights that are being made regarding the impact of space on human physiology, as well as other living organisms. For example, we have accumulated a lot of knowledge about the effects of weightlessness on a whole range of materials, including potential benefits for making more effective medical drugs that should be widely shared in our classrooms. We also need to share the lessons of our research and observation about our own home planet. NASA and many other agencies have amassed countless amounts of information about the Earth and sharing that information in classrooms will make current and future generations even better stewards of the Earth.

Bush: I believe it is important that we continue to lay the groundwork for long-term exploration of our neighboring planets such as Mars by increasing our knowledge and experience of planetary exploration via robots, including landers that are ultimately capable of extensive coverage. In addition, it is important that America stay focused on driving the cost of space transportation down so that the total costs of sending humans to explore new planets is affordable and the means to get them there is technologically feasible, reliable and accountable. That means making renewed commitments to math and science education at every level of education in America and managing programs more responsibly.

Whether through developing new technologies that can give us advance warnings of weather emergencies, such as hurricanes or tornadoes, or applying newfound knowledge to help a farmer plant a robust crop, NASA shows us how exploring the beyond offers us reward here at home. It has been these explorations, brought home by America's greatest explorers -- astronauts -- that offer the most reward for the American people. The end result not only better serves the taxpayers, whose investments made the research possible, but ultimately will make us better stewards of our Earth.

Bush: I might not see an answer to that question within my lifetime, but as a people, Americans are innately curious and it is inevitable that we will wish to investigate the farthest reaches of the universe in search of organic life. Ground-based and orbiting observatories are constantly reporting the appearance of never before seen planets. It is incumbent on us to be good stewards of our planet while we continue to understand, within our limited resources, the many wonderful mysteries of the universe.