"Human beings are headed into the cosmos."
President Bush gave his long awaited space policy speech this afternoon at NASA HQ. Here is the transcript (PDF). A White House news release and a background sheet were released to accompany the speech.

Some highlights:

-Complete ISS and meet international commitments.

-Return Shuttle to flight, then retire it in 2010.

-New spacecraft, the 'Crew Exploration Vehicle' to begin (unmanned) testing in 2008.

-Return to Moon between 2015-2020. (This was a little confusing. He first said return to the Moon by 2020, but then said crews would start heading there in 2015.)

-Use of the Moon's environment, lighter gravity and resources to head "to Mars and to worlds beyond".

-Establishing a commission chaired by former Air Force Secretary Pete Aldridge to define implementing the plan.

More details, analysis & opinion sure to come.