Long-term, I see robotics prevailing on the moon. . . . The most important decision we'll have to make about space travel is whether to commit to a permanent human presence on Mars. Without it, we'll never be a true space-faring people.

By venturing into space, we improve life for everyone here on Earth - scientific advances and innovations that come from this kind of research create products we use in our daily lives.

The government needs a role in carrying out exploration. They will be leading the development of the engines that are needed, and the private sector will take advantage of those.

The way I see it, commercial interests should manage a lunar base while NASA gets on with the really important task of flying to Mars.

We need the next generation to be motivated and to push technological boundaries, to seek out new innovations.

Fear and worry are emotions that cloud the mind from being able to think clearly, to remember what the procedures are to deal with that emergency.

I feel we need to remind the world about the Apollo missions and that we can still do impossible things.