Moon to Mars Architecture
We’re designing a roadmap for long-term exploration of the lunar surface, our first steps on the Red Planet, and the journey beyond, working with our partners in industry, academia, and the international community.
Introduction
What is Architecture?
When most think of architecture, they envision the skyscrapers, cantilevered homes, or marbled museums. In this case, architecture isn’t the built environment. It isn’t a mission, a manifest, or a set of requirements. Instead, NASA’s Moon to Mars Architecture defines the elements needed for long-term, human-led scientific discovery in deep space.
NASA’s architecture approach distills agency-developed objectives into operational capabilities and elements that support science and exploration goals. Working with experts across the agency, industry, academia, and the international community, NASA continuously evolves that blueprint for crewed exploration, setting humanity on a path to the Moon, Mars, and beyond.
Introductory Reading
Our Process
Define the Architecture
In collaboration with other agency directorates – Space Operations, Science, Space Technology, and Aeronautics – as well as commercial, academic, and international partners, NASA’s Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate develops systems for Moon to Mars exploration. Within the directorate, NASA’s Strategy and Architecture Office leads definition, documentation, and disposition of the overarching Moon to Mars architecture with buy-in from all stakeholders.
Architecting from the right, the Strategy and Architecture Office begins with the broadest goals – farthest in the future on the timeline. From there, they ensure that each objective is traced to relevant architectural elements. A yearly strategic analysis cycle informs architecture decisions by identifying technology gaps and needed capabilities. Based on this analysis, NASA develops solutions that fulfill objectives for crewed exploration.
NASA Conducts Annual Moon to Mars Architecture Concept Review
NASA hosted its second annual Architecture Concept Review in mid-November, bringing together leaders from across the agency to discuss progress…
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Dive Deeper
Understand the Architecture
The primary result of these efforts is the Architecture Definition Document, released after the annual Architecture Concept Review with updated from a yearly strategic analysis cycle. Additional products developed by the Strategy and Architecture office include workshops, webinars, white papers, and other resources that explain or expand upon concepts withing the Architecture Definition Document.
The tabs below host information about some of the architecture-related resources produced by the Strategy and Architecture Office. NASA makes these materials available to the general public and partner organizations to grow understanding of the Moon to Mars effort and to facilitate discussion and collaboration on the architecture.
Architecture Definition Documents
Yearly, NASA publishes an updated Architecture Definition Document that explains the Moon to Mars architecture in deep technical detail. NASA also releases an executive summary that provides an overview of the architecture process and updates to the architecture from that year.
View the Documents
Mars Architecture Studies
NASA is compiling historical documents related to Mars exploration architectures. This library illuminates the growing body of architectural work related to crewed exploration at the Moon and Mars.
Browse the Library
White Papers
Yearly, NASA releases a series of white papers that complement the Architecture Definition Document and elucidate key results from that year’s architecture concept review.
Read the Papers
Architecture Workshops
NASA hosts workshops to grow understanding of the Moon to Mars effort, to solicit feedback on the existing architecture, and to garner partnerships with industry, academia, and the international community. At the link below you may find information about upcoming events and resources from previous workshops and webinars.
Learn more
NASA Begins Feedback Process for Moon to Mars Architecture
As NASA builds a blueprint for human exploration throughout the solar system for the benefit of humanity, efforts to advance…
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Engage with Us
Become an Architect
NASA has a long, successful history of working with a diverse community of partners to advance common space exploration and science objectives. The agency is committed to building on and broadening these global partnerships as we establish a sustained presence on the Moon and venture on to Mars.
Work with us!
Help define our shared future in space.
If you are an authorized representative of a U.S.-based organization and wish to engage further on NASA’s Moon to Mars architecture, please contact us following review of the Architecture Definition Document. Please do not send any business proprietary or personally sensitive information.
Contact Us
Work with us!
Help define our shared future in space.
If you are an authorized representative of an international space agency or government and wish to engage further on NASA’s Moon to Mars architecture, please contact us following review of the Architecture Definition Document. Please do not send any business proprietary or personally sensitive information.
Contact Us