The National Center for Earth and Space Science Education (NCESSE) is charged with conducting education and public outreach programs in the Earth and space sciences, and aeronautics and astronautics, to help ensure both a science literate public and a next generation of scientists and engineers.

The Voyage Program and Journey through the Universe are both Center initiatives with a 10-year heritage of activities:

• Journey through the Universe: a science education initiative providing an entire community with programming, curricula, and ongoing resources in Earth Systems Science; the exploration of space (addressing the Solar System, galaxy, and universe); the search for extraterrestrial life and intelligences; and engineering of spacecraft and space-based habitats. Much of the programming is conducted by a national team of scientists, engineers, and educators from research organizations nationally that travel to the community.
• Voyage Program: provides a community with a Voyage scale model Solar System exhibition for permanent installation, together with a grade K-13 curriculum, tour brochures, activity guides used with the exhibition and at home, and ongoing access to educational resources—all addressing Solar System science—for community-wide involvement. A community is also provided kick-off programming for educators and the public, and can obtain ongoing programming through Journey through the Universe.

The Voyage Program, when coupled with extended programming through Journey through the Universe:

• Embraces a community-wide learning model for: students in grades K-20; educators across grades K-13; families; and the general public.
• Provides a wide array of program formats addressing both formal (e.g., classroom-based) and informal (e.g.., museum/science center-based) education venues, through professional development for educators, student programs, public programs, exhibitions, and distance learning.
• Effectively bridges across science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) content.
• Provides a window on the nature of science and the lives of modern-day explorers, with special emphasis on not just what is known about our world and the universe, but how it has come to be known. The embraced educational paradigm is inspire...then educate.
• Provides programming that is strategic, addressing the community's educational goals in STEM education; systemic, addressing entire school systems; and sustainable, providing content and resources on an ongoing basis.