Marion C. Blakey, President and CEO, Aerospace Industries Association, addresses guests at the NASA Education Stakeholders’ Summit One Stop Shopping Initiative (OSSI), Monday, Sep. 13, 2010, at the Westfields Marriott Conference Center in Chantilly, VA. (Photo Credit: NASA/Carla Cioffi)

Karina Perez, Director for Unmanned and Emerging Aviation Technologies, Aerospace Industries Association, speaks on a panel at a White House Hispanic Heritage month event titled “Soaring Together: Inspiring the Next Generation of Space Leaders” at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, Monday, Sept. 30, 2024 in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

President and CEO of Aerospace Industries Association Eric Fanning gives remarks at the premiere of the film "Apollo 11: First Steps Edition", Tuesday, May 14, 2019 at the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

Officials from Marshall Space Flight Center discussed the state's role in leading America back to the Moon and on to Mars with elected officials, industry leaders, students and the public during the Aerospace States Association’s Alabama Aerospace Week in Montgomery, Ala. NASA was honored by the Alabama legislature with a resolution and proclamation from Gov. Kay Ivey recognizing the agency's achievements. Astronaut Tracy Dyson speaks to legislators in Alabama House of Representatives

Officials from Marshall Space Flight Center discussed the state's role in leading America back to the Moon and on to Mars with elected officials, industry leaders, students and the public during the Aerospace States Association’s Alabama Aerospace Week in Montgomery, Ala. NASA was honored by the Alabama legislature with a resolution and proclamation from Gov. Kay Ivey recognizing the agency's achievements. MSFC Director Todd May and Astronaut Tracy Dyson chat with Alabama Governor Kay Ivey.

Officials from Marshall Space Flight Center discussed the state's role in leading America back to the Moon and on to Mars with elected officials, industry leaders, students and the public during the Aerospace States Association’s Alabama Aerospace Week in Montgomery, Ala. NASA was honored by the Alabama legislature with a resolution and proclamation from Gov. Kay Ivey recognizing the agency's achievements. MSFC Director Todd May and Astronaut Tracy Dyson speak to the Alabama State Senate.

Officials from Marshall Space Flight Center discussed the state's role in leading America back to the Moon and on to Mars with elected officials, industry leaders, students and the public during the Aerospace States Association’s Alabama Aerospace Week in Montgomery, Ala. NASA was honored by the Alabama legislature with a resolution and proclamation from Gov. Kay Ivey recognizing the agency's achievements. Dr. Quentin T. Ross, Jr., President, Alabama State University, Astronaut Tracy Dyson, and MSFC Director Todd May talk to members of the media at Alabama State University.

Officials from Marshall Space Flight Center discussed the state's role in leading America back to the Moon and on to Mars with elected officials, industry leaders, students and the public during the Aerospace States Association’s Alabama Aerospace Week in Montgomery, Ala. NASA was honored by the Alabama legislature with a resolution and proclamation from Gov. Kay Ivey recognizing the agency's achievements. Astronaut Tracy Dyson, Alabama Governor Kay Ivey, and MSFC Director pose with proclamation signed by Governor Ivey declaring February 22, 2108, as NASA Day

Officials from Marshall Space Flight Center discussed the state's role in leading America back to the Moon and on to Mars with elected officials, industry leaders, students and the public during the Aerospace States Association’s Alabama Aerospace Week in Montgomery, Ala. NASA was honored by the Alabama legislature with a resolution and proclamation from Gov. Kay Ivey recognizing the agency's achievements. NASA Trained Alabama Lead Teachers, (LtoR) Jacquelyn Adams, Arlinda Davis,Timothy Johnson,Laura Crowe demonstrate how rocket boosters work.

Frank Slazer, Vice President of Space Systems, Aerospace Industries Association, delivers remarks panel discussion on the Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) initiative at NASA Headquarters in Washington on Wednesday, November 13, 2013. Through COTS, NASA's partners Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX) and Orbital Sciences Corp., developed new U.S. rockets and spacecraft, launched from U.S. soil, capable of transporting cargo to low-Earth orbit and the International Space Station. Photo Credit: (NASA/Jay Westcott)

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Kelvin Manning, associate director of NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, welcomes participants to an industry conference inside the Television Auditorium at Kennedy. The conference was held following the program's request for proposals from commercial companies for a development and certification contract called the Commercial Crew Transportation Capability CCtCap. The contract will provide a finish line for the agency following more than four years of development work by CCP and American aerospace companies. CCtCap is the second phase of a two-phase certification plan for privately built and operated integrated crew transportation systems. Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - NASA Administrator Sean O’Keefe (center) talks to John Douglass, with the Aerospace Industries Association, at the “1st Space Exploration Conference: Continuing the Voyage of Discovery,” being held at Disney’s Contemporary Resort in Orlando. O’Keefe is the keynote speaker kicking off the conference. Douglass is one of the panelists. Topics being presented focus on new missions, technologies and infrastructure needed to turn the vision for space exploration into reality. Other keynote speakers at the three-day conference include Congressman Dave Weldon, film director James Cameron and NASA’s senior Mars scientist James Garvin. The conference has drawn attendees from around the world.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - NASA Administrator Sean O’Keefe (center) talks to John Douglass, with the Aerospace Industries Association, at the “1st Space Exploration Conference: Continuing the Voyage of Discovery,” being held at Disney’s Contemporary Resort in Orlando. O’Keefe is the keynote speaker kicking off the conference. Douglass is one of the panelists. Topics being presented focus on new missions, technologies and infrastructure needed to turn the vision for space exploration into reality. Other keynote speakers at the three-day conference are Congressman Dave Weldon, film director James Cameron and NASA’s senior Mars scientist James Garvin. The conference has drawn attendees from around the world.

Gareth Edwards, film director, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, speaks on a panel after a showing of the Project Mars Competition's short films and the Mars series, Monday, November 5, 2018 at National Geographic Society Headquarters in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

A guest uses some virtual reality viewers before a showing of the Project Mars Competition's short films winners and the Mars series, Monday, November 5, 2018 at National Geographic Society Headquarters in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

Chris Davenport, Washington Post space reporter, moderates a panel after a showing of the Project Mars Competition's short films and the Mars series, Monday, November 5, 2018 at National Geographic Society Headquarters in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

Dr. Stephen Petranek, MARS scientific advisor and co-executive producer speaks on a panel after a showing of the Project Mars Competition's short films and the Mars series, Monday, November 5, 2018 at National Geographic Society Headquarters in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

Eric Fanning, AIA President and CEO speaks before a showing of the Project Mars Competition's short films winners and the Mars series, Monday, November 5, 2018 at National Geographic Society Headquarters in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

A guest uses some virtual reality viewers before a showing of the Project Mars Competition's short films winners and the Mars series, Monday, November 5, 2018 at National Geographic Society Headquarters in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

Ellen Stofan, director, Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, speaks on a panel after a showing of the Project Mars Competition's short films and the Mars series, Monday, November 5, 2018 at National Geographic Society Headquarters in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

Christyl Johnson, deputy director for technology and research investments, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, second from right, speaks on a panel after a showing of the Project Mars Competition's short films and the Mars series, Monday, November 5, 2018 at National Geographic Society Headquarters in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

Ellen Stofan, director, Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, speaks on a panel after a showing of the Project Mars Competition's short films and the Mars series, Monday, November 5, 2018 at National Geographic Society Headquarters in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

Gary Knell, CEO, National Geographic Partners speaks before a showing of the Project Mars Competition's short films winners and the Mars series, Monday, November 5, 2018 at National Geographic Society Headquarters in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

L-R: Alan Lindenmoyer, Manager of Commercial Crew and Cargo Program, NASA; Gwynne Shotwell, President, SpaceX; Frank Culbertson, Executive Vice President and General Manager, Orbital Sciences Advanced Programs Group; Frank Slazer, Vice President of Space Systems, Aerospace Industries Association and Phil McAlister, Director of Commercial Spaceflight Development at NASA, participate in a panel discussion on the Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) initiative at NASA Headquarters in Washington on Wednesday, November 13, 2013. Through COTS, NASA's partners Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX) and Orbital Sciences Corp., developed new U.S. rockets and spacecraft, launched from U.S. soil, capable of transporting cargo to low-Earth orbit and the International Space Station. Photo Credit: (NASA/Jay Westcott)

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Lisa Colloredo, associate program manager of NASA's Commercial Crew Program and a panelist of the Commercial Crew Transportation Capability, or CCtCap, Pre-Proposal Conference, is seen before the start of an industry conference inside the Television Auditorium at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The conference was held following the Commercial Crew Program, or CCP, request for proposals from commercial companies for a development and certification contract under CCtCap. The contract will provide a finish line for the agency following more than four years of development work by CCP and American aerospace companies. CCtCap is the second phase of a two-phase certification plan for privately built and operated integrated crew transportation systems. CCP’s goal is to aid in the development of commercial capabilities for crew transportation and rescue services to and from the International Space Station and other low-Earth orbit destinations by the end of 2017. Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann

HOUSTON -- JSC-2013-E076043 -- John Elbon, The Boeing Company's vice president of Space Exploration, second right, shows off a wind tunnel model of the CST-100 spacecraft to Johnson Space Center management at the company's Houston Product Support Center. From left, are Kirk Shireman, Johnson's deputy director, Ellen Ochoa, Johnson's director, Kathy Lueders, deputy director of NASA's Commercial Crew Program, Elbon, and Melanie Saunders, Johnson's associate director. Boeing's CST-100 is designed to transport a mix of crew and cargo to low-Earth-orbit destinations. Boeing is one of three aerospace industry partners working with NASA's Commercial Crew Program, or CCP, during the Commercial Crew Integrated Capability, or CCiCap, initiative, which is intended to make commercial human spaceflight services available for government and commercial customers. To learn more about CCP, visit www.nasa.gov/commercialcrew. Photo credit: NASA/James Blair

NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine gives keynote remarks before a showing of the Project Mars Competition's short films and the Mars series, Monday, November 5, 2018 at National Geographic Society Headquarters in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine gives keynote remarks before a showing of the Project Mars Competition's short films and the Mars series, Monday, November 5, 2018 at National Geographic Society Headquarters in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine gives keynote remarks before a showing of the Project Mars Competition's short films and the Mars series, Monday, November 5, 2018 at National Geographic Society Headquarters in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Lisa Colloredo, left, associate program manager of NASA's Commercial Crew Program, and Pam Underwood of the Federal Aviation Administration's Office of Commercial Transportation, both panelists of the Commercial Crew Transportation Capability, or CCtCap, Pre-Proposal Conference, are seen before the start of an industry conference inside the Television Auditorium at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The conference was held following the Commercial Crew Program, or CCP, request for proposals from commercial companies for a development and certification contract under CCtCap. The contract will provide a finish line for the agency following more than four years of development work by CCP and American aerospace companies. CCtCap is the second phase of a two-phase certification plan for privately built and operated integrated crew transportation systems. CCP’s goal is to aid in the development of commercial capabilities for crew transportation and rescue services to and from the International Space Station and other low-Earth orbit destinations by the end of 2017. Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Lisa Colloredo, left, associate program manager of NASA's Commercial Crew Program, and Pam Underwood of the Federal Aviation Administration's Office of Commercial Transportation, both panelists of the Commercial Crew Transportation Capability, or CCtCap, Pre-Proposal Conference, take questions during an industry conference inside the Television Auditorium at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The conference was held following the Commercial Crew Program, or CCP, request for proposals from commercial companies for a development and certification contract under CCtCap. The contract will provide a finish line for the agency following more than four years of development work by CCP and American aerospace companies. CCtCap is the second phase of a two-phase certification plan for privately built and operated integrated crew transportation systems. CCP’s goal is to aid in the development of commercial capabilities for crew transportation and rescue services to and from the International Space Station and other low-Earth orbit destinations by the end of 2017. Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann

From left to right, Christyl Johnson, deputy director for technology and research investments, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center; NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine; Gary Knell, CEO, National Geographic Partners; Ellen Stofan, director, Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum; Eric Fanning, AIA President and CEO; and Jeff DeWitt, NASA Chief Financial Officer, pose for a photo before a showing of the Project Mars Competition's short films winners and the Mars series, Monday, November 5, 2018 at National Geographic Society Headquarters in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

From left to right, Eric Fanning, AIA President and CEO; Christyl Johnson, deputy director for technology and research investments, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center; Dr. Stephen Petranek, MARS scientific advisor and co-executive producer; Ellen Stofan, director, Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum; Gareth Edwards, film director, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story; and Chris Davenport, Washington Post space reporter pose for a photo before a showing of the Project Mars Competition's short films winners and the Mars series, Monday, November 5, 2018 at National Geographic Society Headquarters in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

From left to right, Dr. Stephen Petranek, MARS scientific advisor and co-executive producer; Gareth Edwards, film director, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story; Jeff DeWitt, NASA chief financial officer; Christyl Johnson, deputy director for technology and research investments, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center; NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine; Ellen Stofan, director, Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum; Gary Knell, CEO, National Geographic Partners; Eric Fanning, AIA President and CEO; and Chris Davenport, Washington Post space reporter, pose for a photo before a showing of the Project Mars Competition's short films winners and the Mars series, Monday, November 5, 2018 at National Geographic Society Headquarters in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

President Donald Trump, center, speaks before signing an Executive Order to reestablish the National Space Council, alongside members of the Congress, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and Commercial Space Companies in the Roosevelt room of the White House in Washington, Friday, June 30, 2017. Vice President Mike Pence, also in attendance, will chair the council. Also pictured are, Rep. Bill Posey, R-Florida, Rep. Lamar Smith, R-Texas, Rep. John Culberson, R-Texas, Rep. Steven Palazzo, R-Miss., Rep. Brian Babin, R-Texas, Rep. Mo Brooks, R-Alabama, Rep. Dana Rohrbacher, R-California, Former Rep. Bob Walker, R-Pennsylvania, Sandy Magnus, executive director, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, David Melcher, executive director, Aerospace Industries Association, Tory Bruno, CEO, United Launch Alliance, Michal Riley, CEO, AMRO Fabricating Corporation, John Couch, president, Futuramic, Mike Cain, owner, Cain Tubular Products, Mary Lynne Dittmar, executive director, Coalition for Deep Space Exploration, Dennis Muilenburg, CEO Boeing Company, Marilyn Hewson, CEO, Lockheed Martin, Wes Bush, CEO, Northrop Grumman, retired NASA astronaut Buzz Aldrin, NASA astronaut Alvin Drew, retired NASA astronaut David Wolf, Apollo 13 flight director, Gene Kranz, Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross, Under Secretary of the Air Force Lisa Disbrow, and Acting Deputy Director of National Intelligence, Dawn Eilengerger. Photo Credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

President Donald Trump, center, asks who should receive the pen after signing an Executive Order to reestablish the National Space Council, alongside members of the Congress, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and Commercial Space Companies in the Roosevelt room of the White House in Washington, Friday, June 30, 2017. Retired astronaut Buzz Aldrin was given the pen. Also pictured are, Vice President Mike Pence, Rep. Bill Posey, R-Florida, Rep. Lamar Smith, R-Texas, Rep. John Culberson, R-Texas, Rep. Steven Palazzo, R-Miss., Rep. Brian Babin, R-Texas, Rep. Mo Brooks, R-Alabama, Rep. Dana Rohrbacher, R-California, Former Rep. Bob Walker, R-Pennsylvania, Sandy Magnus, executive director, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, David Melcher, executive director, Aerospace Industries Association, Tory Bruno, CEO, United Launch Alliance, Michal Riley, CEO, AMRO Fabricating Corporation, John Couch, president, Futuramic, Mike Cain, owner, Cain Tubular Products, Mary Lynne Dittmar, executive director, Coalition for Deep Space Exploration, Dennis Muilenburg, CEO Boeing Company, Marilyn Hewson, CEO, Lockheed Martin, Wes Bush, CEO, Northrop Grumman, NASA Astronaut Alvin Drew, retired NASA astronaut David Wolf, Apollo 13 flight director, Gene Kranz, Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross, Under Secretary of the Air Force Lisa Disbrow, and Acting Deputy Director of National Intelligence, Dawn Eilengerger. Photo Credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)