NewsRelease

National Aeronautics and

Space Administration
Langley Research Center
Hampton, Virginia 23681-2199
July 9, 2014
RELEASE: 12-090

NASA Prepares to Launch Crewed Mission to Mars

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has announced plans for Ambition, a
revolutionary mission to Mars, which will launch in 20XX*.

While non-crewed missions to Mars have succeeded in the past, Ambition is especially important as the
first crewed mission to the planet.

"This mission will open infinite possibilities for the future of the human race and will offer opportunities to
investigate the potential for life already existing on Mars," said NASA engineer Tom Hudson.

The Mars landing site will be Mawrth Vallis, a prime spot for landing because of its status as a stable
valley.

The primary exploration objective of this mission will be to successfully send humans to Mars and return
them safely.

The mission will employ launches which will take place in the United States and Japan. NASA will partner
with Japan and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) as its international collaboration for the
mission, and the five-member, mixed gender crew will consist of three Americans (including the
pilot/commander) and two Japanese. NASA has also announced Bigelow Aerospace as a corporate
partner for the mission.

NASA works to monitor the Earth and space through air and land-based technology.

For more information about the mission, visit the mission website, www.marsambition.weebly.com.

For more information about NASA, visit nasa.gov.

For questions, contact Stephanie Long, Virginia Aerospace Science and Technology Scholars Strategic
Communications System Manager, at 475-251-1076.
-end-
Disclaimer: This is a fictional press release used only for educational purposes by the Virginia Aerospace
Science and Technology Scholars Summer Academy.
*to be updated when Mission Transit notifies SC of the approved launch date