Extending NASA's Exploration Systems Architecture Towards Long-Term Crewed Moon and Mars Operations

Abstract

This paper presents a baseline strategy for extending lunar crew transportation system operations as outlined in NASA’s Exploration Systems Architecture Study (ESAS) report towards longer-stay lunar surface operations and conjunction class Mars missions. The analysis of options for commonality between initial lunar sortie operations and later Moon and Mars exploration missions is essential for reducing life-cycle cost and providing lowinvestment / high-return options for extending exploration capabilities soon after the 7 human lunar landing. The analysis is also intended to inform the development of the human lunar lander and other exploration system elements by identifying enabling requirements for extension of the lunar crew transportation system. The baseline strategy outlined in this paper was generated using a three-step process: the analysis of exploration objectives and scenarios, identification of functional and operational extension options, and the conceptual design of a set of preferred extension options. Extension options include (but are not limited to) the use of the human lunar lander as outpost for extended stays, and Mars crew transportation using evolved Crew Exploration Vehicle (CEV) and human lander crew compartments. Although the results presented in this paper are based on the ESAS elements, the conclusions drawn in this paper are generally applicable provided the same lunar transportation mode (lunar orbit rendezvous) is used.