It has often been said that space exploration is a 'go as we can afford to pay' endeavor.

Civil space cooperation is not something done just for fun or even just only for inspiration, as important as that is.

We as a country are more dependent upon a peaceful, quiet and stable space environment than any other nation in the world.

Getting them involved in cooperation, getting them involved in caring about having a peaceful and stable space environment is something that I think is deeply in our national security and foreign policy interest.

I believe we are on the right track but we must remain budget-focused and mission-vigilant.

We have, I think, an opportunity to serve our long-term national security and geopolitical interests with a program of space exploration.

We must ensure that future exploration endeavors lay the groundwork for an eventual human landing on Mars.

I consider American leadership in space as a matter of national pride but also national security.

The future of human space exploration is one that is personal to me.

We cannot change our program of record every time there is a new President.

The current schedule for NASA's first manned flight is 2021 on the Orion and SLS, but that is based on the President's budget plan.