Gallery: President Obama and NASA

Discovery and ISS Crews Take Presidential Call

The STS-133 and Expedition 26 crew members gather in the Destiny laboratory of the International Space Station to speak with President Barack Obama on March 3, 2011.

STS-133 Crew Meets with President Obama

Space shuttle STS-133 mission Commander Steven Lindsey (far left) presents a montage to President Barack Obama in the Oval Office of the White House, as crew members Michael Barratt, Pilot Eric Boe, Nicole Slott, and Stephen Bowen along with NASA Administrator Charles Bolden (far right) look on, May 9, 2011.

STS-133 Crew Presents a Montage to President Obama

In the Oval Office of the White House, Space shuttle STS-133 mission Commander Steven Lindsey (far left) presents a montage to President Barack Obama as crew members Michael Barratt, Pilot Eric Boe, Nicole Slott, and Stephen Bowen look on, May 9, 2011.

First Family Beneath the Landing Gear

President Barack Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama, daughters Malia, left, Sasha, and Mrs. Obama's mother, Marian Robinson, walk under the landing gear of the space shuttle Atlantis. Astronaut Janet Kavandi and United Space Alliance project lead for thermal protection systems Terry White conduct the tour of Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Friday, April 29, 2011.

First Family and Atlantis

President Barack Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama, daughters Malia, left, Sasha, Marian Robinson, Astronaut Janet Kavandi and United Space Alliance project lead for thermal protection systems Terry White study the exterior of space shuttle Atlantis during a visit to Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Friday, April 29, 2011.

First Family Looks at Shuttle Tiles

Terry White, United Space Alliance project lead for thermal protection systems, left, displays a space shuttle tile to President Barack Obama and his family, from left, First Lady Michelle Obama, Malia, Marian Robinson and Sasha, during their visit to the Orbital Processing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Friday, April 29, 2011.