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 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.
Architecture Documents
Architecture Update
2023 Architecture Concept Review Results
On Tuesday, January 23, NASA released the outcomes of its 2023 Moon to Mars Architecture Concept Review, the agency’s process to build a roadmap for exploration of the solar system for the benefit of humanity.
Learn More about 2023 Architecture Concept Review ResultsOur 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.
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.
NASA Shares Two New Moon to Mars Architecture White Papers
NASA has released two white papers associated with the agency’s Moon to Mars architecture efforts. The papers, one on lunar…
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Explore the Architecture
NASA’s Moon to Mars Architecture is the roadmap for our return to the Moon and our future exploration of Mars. The strategy and objectives documents below set NASA’s long-term goals for human exploration of our solar system, while the architecture seeks to ensure that human spaceflight missions — starting with Artemis and continuing to Mars and beyond — achieve those ambitions.
Moon to Mars Objectives and Strategy
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 DocumentsMars 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 LibraryWhite 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 PapersArchitecture 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 moreArchitecture and Artemis
With Artemis missions, we are exploring the Moon for scientific discovery, technology advancement, and to learn how to live and work on another world as we prepare for human missions to Mars. The Artemis missions are a key steps in realizing NASA’s Moon to Mars Architecture and Objectives.
Read MoreNASA 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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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.
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Fill out the form linked below if you’d like to be added to the mailing list for updates on NASA’s Moon to Mars Architecture.
Updates are intended for organizations seeking to engage with the architecture process or provide feedback on the architecture.
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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 UsWork 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