Space science education is an area of emerging importance in the 21st Century. Missions sponsored by the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and programs facilitated through the NASA Space Science Education Consortium (NSSEC) offer unique opportunities to foster learner interest in space science as well as the broader field of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). This introduction provides context for the major roles NASA plays in space science education and includes an overview for each of the articles in this issue.