The mission statement and vision statement of NASA, as is true of most organizations, tend to change over time as the focus of the organization shifts. Shifts in focus most frequently occur because of changes in an organization's external environment or its internal capacities. In the case of governmental organizations such as NASA, however, the mission statement and vision statement of an organization such as NASA change in relation to the penchants of politicians currently in power. Changes of this latter variety need not be negative events; however, the potential for political expediency to displace more rational motivations for change certainly exists.

The enabling Act in 1958 created NASA's initial mission statement. The organization's mission statement then was as follows:

To advance and communicate scientific knowledge and understanding of the Earth, the solar system, and the universe and use the environment of space for research. To explore, use, and enable the development of space for human enterprise. To research, develop, verify, and transfer advanced aeronautics, space, and related technologies. (National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958, 1958)

Pursue commercial opportunities for providing transportation and other services supporting International Space Station and exploration missions beyond Earth orbit. Separate to the maximum extent practical crew from cargo.

NASA's goals and objectives enumerated in The New Age of Exploration: NASA's Direction for 2005 and Beyond (2005) are based on the organization's vision statement and mission statement as those statements are presented in the preceding section of this paper. With respect to goals NASA stated the following (O'Keefe, 2004):

organization's vision was as follows: To improve life here, "To extend life to there, To find life beyond a as only NASA can" (Wilson, 2004, p. 1). In the early-1960s, however, President John Kennedy changed the focus of NASA to manned space flight. Over the three plus decades that followed, however, this focus gradually weakened. In January 2004, President George Bush renewed NASA's focus on space exploration (O'Keefe, 2004).

Use NASA missions and other activities to inspire and motivate the Nation's students and teachers, to engage and educate the public, and to advance the scientific and technological capabilities of the nation.

Conduct human expeditions to Mars after acquiring adequate knowledge about the planet using robotic missions and after successfully demonstrating sustained human exploration missions to the Moon.

Promote international and commercial participation in exploration to further U.S. scientific, security, and economic interests.

2. A bloated federal budget that leaves NASA vulnerable