We are at the beginning of a brand new century. From the depths of the oceans to the outer reaches of space, we will explore and discover places and phenomena we can barely imagine today. Advancing technologies will help us bridge horizons to go where no Earthly human has ever gone. In the new millennium, we will be much like the ancient astronomers and mariners who laid down the foundations of our current knowledge of the heavens and the Earth. We will explore new galaxies and visit other planets. Yes, that is exactly where we are eventually headed - to other worlds.

It will take the combined talents of engineers, astronauts, astrophysicists, cosmologists, computer scientists, meteorologists, researchers, scientists and so many others to get us there. That is the direction we are headed in and plans for more unmanned space flights followed by manned interplanetary space flights are on the drawing boards. Would you like to be a part of this effort? Are you curious to find out if we are alone in the universe? Did you know that our solar system is almost five billion years old? Scientists have calculated a theory that the origins of the universe began with a "Big Bang" some 11-15 billion years ago. NASA's (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) Origins Program will be searching the heavens to find our cosmic roots, including answers to:

• How did the first galaxies form?
• How do stars and planetary systems form?
• Are there any planets outside our solar system that are capable of sustaining life?
• How did life originate on Earth?
• Is there life (however primitive or evolved) outside our solar system?