NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Ares-V Heavy Lift Launch Vehicle (NASA)
MSFC Advanced Concepts develops new and innovative concepts for subsystems, spacecraft systems, payloads, transportation systems, and mission and system architectures. Our customers include NASA, DoD, industry and academia. We perform complete and integrated systems analyses, technology assessments, and independent assessments of potential concepts including:

• Pre-Phase A Concept Studies leading to Mission Concept Reviews
• Phase A Concept Development in support of Mission Design Reviews

Human Lunar Lander Concepts (NASA)
We provide a unique capability for full architecture and individual vehicle analyses:

• Launch vehicles
• Deep space missions (human and robotic)
• Planetary surface systems

We have extensive experience providing end-to-end analyses and in leading or supporting multi-organizational teams including:

• Other NASA centers
• Other government agencies
• Industry
• Universities

Lunar Surface Systems (NASA)
History and Heritage

MSFC's Advanced Concepts has a rich heritage performing the up-front conceptual designs for several successful space missions including the Hubble Space Telescope, the Chandra X-Ray Observatory, the IMAGE mission, and the International Space Station -- to name but a few.

Advanced Technology Large-Area Space Telescope, or ATLAST (NASA)
Current Studies

The concepts our engineers are currently or have recently completed studying are:

• Ares-V Heavy Lift Launch Vehicle
• Altair Lunar Lander subsystem trades
• Lunar Surface Systems
• ATLAST 8-meter Space Telescope
• Xenia Astrophysics Space Observatory
• "Refuelable" Lunar Landers
• Robotic Lunar Landers