Some thirteen thousand years ago the forebears to all the indigenous people of the Americas walked across the exposed Bering land bridge from Siberia to modern day Alaska. Archaeological evidence shows this migration to have unfolded at a relatively rapid rate, humans spreading south to the tip of Argentine in just one thousand years.

We are, as a species, explorers. Our feet, our caravans, our powered vehicles have taken us to the furthest reaches of the continents, across and beneath the surface of the oceans; through the skies, into orbit, and to the Moon. Since pre-history, we have pressed to the furthest reaches of hospitable lands in search of food, to expand kingdoms, and simply to learn about the world beyond our safe realm.

With the Earth nearly completely explored, the population of humans exploding, this innate, internal drive will soon carry us beyond the only planet we inhabit. In the coming decade humans will return to the Moon, place foot on Mars, and even make temporary homes on the asteroids.

This is not a new technology play, for the foundation of all that is required to make these journeys exists today in the knowledge and experience of government space programs and private aerospace corporations. The true challenge is the allocation of resources, tight collaboration in a multi-national endeavor, and leadership of what will be recorded in history as our greatest accomplishment.