NASA is constructing a blueprint for human exploration throughout the solar system for the benefit of humanity. Last Tuesday, the agency released the results from its first Architecture Concept Review (ACR). The ACR is a robust analysis process designed to align NASA’s Moon to Mars exploration strategy and codify the support architecture.
Pam Melroy is the Deputy Administrator of NASA. She said, “Our first Architecture Concept Review is a milestone that will help our Moon to Mars strategy unfold through the objectives in missions both near and long term. We're aligned with partners toward a future of expanded economic opportunity, scientific discovery, and greater activity on and around the moon, and with limitless possibilities deeper in the solar system.”
NASA's Architecture Definition Document was written for highly technical audiences. It also contains an associated executive summary. These documents provide a deep dive into NASA’s Moon to Mars architecture approach and development process. There are also six supporting white papers which were released to cover frequently discussed exploration architecture topics.
Cathy Koerner is the deputy associate administrator for the Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington. She said, “NASA now has a goal-based foundation upon which to build our current and future exploration plans. Our approach is designed to ensure exploration of the moon and Mars has staying power.”
The NASA’s process was a response to a call from Vice President Harris to develop a plan for an initial lunar surface architecture which include commercial and international partnerships. VP Harris is the Chair of the National Space Council. The agency’s Moon to Mars architecture represents the hardware and operation required for human missions to the Moon and Mars, and how they function together as a system.
The Architecture is not a mission, a manifest, or a set of requirements. It defines elements such as rockets, spacecraft, rovers, spacesuits, communications relays, and more. These will be incrementally developed and delivered to the Moon and Mars for long-term, human-led scientific discovery in deep space.
NASA released its revised Moon to Mars Objectives in 2022 as guideposts in the Agency’s Moon to Mars exploration approach to aid NASA’s space investments toward the Moon and beyond. The agency’s industry and international space agency partners were included in the report. The objectives cover four broad areas including science; transportation and habitation; lunar and Martian infrastructure; and operations. The objectives were developed with input from the U.S. industry, international space agencies, the NASA workforce and others.
NASA started developing its Architecture Definition Document in late 2022. It was a detailed look at how current objectives are distilled into specific architecture elements. The agency plans to carry out yearly ACR to incorporate new technological capabilities and evolving objectives.
Under the Artemis program, NASA has revealed a vision to explore more of the Moon than ever before. With the crew of Artemis II recently identified, the agency plans to return humans to the Moon. It intends to establish a cadence of missions starting at the lunar South Pole region. These missions will set up a long-term presence to inform future exploration of Mars and other potential destinations in the solar system.