The Goals 

NASA has released "Level 0" Exploration Requirements. Level 1 requirements are usually the most basic summary of what a particular project will involve (for example, the Level 1 requirements for Orbital Space Plane gave potential contractors a one-page summary of what NASA wanted from an OSP). The Level 0 requirements thus give a very, very broad outline of what will be involved in implementing the Vision for Space Exploration (and, I'm sure, are subject to change).
A few interesting points:
(1.5) NASA shall conduct human expeditions to Mars to extend the search for life and to expand the frontiers of human exploration after successfully demonstrating human exploration mission to the moon.
I'm not sure, but this may be the first time this was stated as an official goal. Though the commission the president appointed to review implementation of the vision referred to itself by the unofficial title "The President's Commission on Moon, Mars and Beyond," the president's January 14 speech notably did not ever actually refer to sending humans to Mars. It specified the Moon as an immediate goal for human exploration, but then mandated exploration continue to an open-ended other destinations in the solar system. This is not really a surprising new detail, but mildly interesting nonetheless.
3.3 NASA shall separate transportation of crew and cargo to the International Space Station to the maximum extent practical.
Again, there's been a lot of talk about this, but now it's included as an official requirement.
(4) NASA shall pursue opportunities for international participation to support U.S. space exploration goals.
Ditto. Though Bush made mention of international cooperation in his speech, there's been some criticism of VSE as an isolationist space program.
(5) NASA shall pursue commercial opportunities for providing transportation and other services supporting the International Space Station and exploration missions beyond low earth orbit.
This, I'm sure, is a reaction to some of the "suggestions" that will be made when the President's Commission report is released on Wednesday.

:: :: 09:16 :: David :: [permalink] ::