A manned mission to Mars will happen in our lifetimes, perhaps as soon as ten years from now. People your age will certainly be among the first to set foot on the Red Planet. Many of the decisions you have made during this project will be among the tough choices mission planners will make in the coming years.

You could one day be part of the team that undertakes this spectacular adventure, if not in the actual mission crew, at least in the support staff or people involved in producing the many pieces of equipment such an expedition will require.

On February 28, 2001, President George W. Bush presented to Congress his budget, "A Blueprint for New Beginnings," which addressed several government agencies, including the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). In his budget proposal, Bush recommended additional initiatives and resources for "a more robust Mars Exploration Program."

Think about how you used a significant part of our nation's history not only to understand current problems but also to overcome obstacles to solving those problems. Can you think of other examples in your life when you have overcome obstacles or problems in your life today by considering how you tackled those problems in the past or how others have tackled similar problems?