In 1985, NASA instituted a research program in Telerobotics to develop and provide the technology for applications of telerobotics to the United States Space program. The purpose of this paper is to describe the goals, organizing framework and content of that endeavor. The body of the paper reviews the actual tasks which comprise the content of the program which is now seven years old and has evolved significantly in terms of its content, goals and approach. The lessons learned in that time comprise the organizing framework of the current program. This organizing framework is also described.