...with silent, lifting mind I've trod
The high untrespassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.

Space exploration has become possible in recent decades with the development of technology that can launch manned craft and instruments above Earth's atmosphere. USRA's Space Exploration and Technology Programs seek to extend our current capabilities and develop new technologies to allow continued observation and exploration of our solar system and beyond.

USRA Space Exploration and Technology Programs include:

• Advancement of Engineering Technical Excellence and Technology Development (AETETD) Program, a link for collaborations among engineers, scientists, and technologists at the Marshall Space Flight Center and researchers in universities, private industry, and other governmental agencies.
• The Center for Space Nuclear Research (CSNR), a concentration of university research scientists for the research and development of advanced space nuclear systems.
• The National Center for Space Exploration Research (NCSER), a research collaboration between USRA and Case Western Reserve University to support the development of enabling technologies for space exploration.