NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration

NASA capped a busy year in space by announcing the initial elements of the Global Exploration Strategy and a proposed U.S. lunar architecture, two critical tools for achieving the nation's vision of returning humans to the moon.

Image Right: In this artist's concept, astronauts and robots are working together on the surface of the moon. NASA Langley Research Center is participating in studies to demonstrate the ability of robots to perform tasks either by themselves or with human partners.

Langley Research Center will make use of both tools to guide future technology development work at the center, exercising a broad range of capabilities from entry, descent and landing to guidance, navigation and control to structures and materials.

The exploration strategy was initiated early in 2006 in order to meet a congressional mandate as well as to accomplish goals outlined in the agency’s Vision for Space Exploration.

The long-term strategy development effort, guided by NASA, includes experts from 14 space agencies as well as non-governmental organizations and commercial interests.

"This strategy will enable interested nations to leverage their capabilities and financial and technical contributions, making optimum use of globally available knowledge and resources to help energize a coordinated effort that will propel us into this new age of discovery and exploration," declared NASA Deputy Administrator Shana Dale, speaking at a news conference from the NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston.

The strategy focuses on two overarching issues: Why we are returning to the moon and what we plan to do when we get there. The strategy includes a comprehensive set of the reasons for embarking upon human and robotic exploration of the moon.

Image Left: Astronauts enter a lunar outpost in this artist's concept. NASA currently favors building its first lunar outpost on the outside rim of a giant crater near the south pole of the moon.

NASA's proposed lunar architecture focuses on a third issue: How humans might accomplish the mission of exploring the moon.

NASA planners used the international group's deliberations as well as input from academia, private sector and private citizens as the basis for sketching a U.S. blueprint for a return to the moon. NASA's Lunar Architecture Team, chartered in May 2006, concluded that the most advantageous approach is to develop a solar-powered lunar base and to locate it near one of the poles of the moon.

The poles are relatively accessible, offering frequent launch opportunities, requiring less propellant, and reducing loiter times in low-Earth orbit.

Some polar locations are sunlit most of the time, which can enhance daylight operations and allow the use of solar energy for outpost power. The poles also are more temperate, with temperature swings of only 50 degrees Centigrade over the lunar day compared to almost 250 degrees Centigrade elsewhere on the moon.

The potential abundance of volatiles including hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen at the poles improves the odds of attaining self-sufficiency by offering the ingredients necessary to make air, water and fuel.

With such an outpost, NASA can learn to use the moon's natural resources to live off the land, make preparations for a journey to Mars, conduct a wide range of scientific investigations and encourage international participation.

As currently envisioned, an incremental buildup would begin with four-person crews making several seven-day visits to the moon until their power supplies, rovers and living quarters are operational.

At Langley, an agency-level technology development office is sponsoring projects ranging from autonomous precision landing on the lunar or Mars surface to human-robotic systems for surface operations. The work is being conducted at NASA Centers around the country, including Langley.

The first mission to Mars would begin by 2020. These would be followed by 180-day missions to prepare for journeys to Mars.

The proposed lunar architecture calls for robotic precursor missions designed to support the human mission. These precursors include landing site reconnaissance, natural resource assays and technology risk reduction for the human lander.

Moving into 2007, NASA will continue to refine its lunar architecture, maintaining the open dialogue initiated in 2006, to enhance further the Global Exploration Strategy. NASA's goal is to enable a sustainable space exploration effort in which participating organizations can achieve individual goals with mutually beneficial results.

For more on NASA's exploration plans, visit the Internet at: www.nasa.gov/exploration

+ Return to Researcher News Homepage
The Researcher News
Langley Research Center
Managing Editor and Responsible NASA Official: H. Keith Henry
Editor and Curator: Denise Adams