September 2005 NASA’s Exploration Architecture NASA’sExplorationArchitectureA Bold Vision for Space Exploration  Complete the International Space Station  Safely fly the Space Shuttle until 2010  Develop and fly the Crew Exploration Vehicle no later than 2012  Return to the moon no later than 2020  Extend human presence across the solar system and beyond  Implement a sustained and affordable human and robotic program  Develop supporting innovative technologies, knowledge, and infrastructures  Promote international and commercial participation in exploration “It is time for America to take the next steps. Today I announce a new plan to explore space and extend a human presence across our solar system. We will begin the effort quickly, using existing programs and personnel. We’ll make steady progress – one mission, one voyage, one landing at a time” President George W. Bush – January 14, 2004 2Why We Explore  Human curiosity • Stimulates our imagination • Excites and inspires creativity and productivity • Inspirational  International leadership • Continued roll of global pre-eminence for the US requires pre-eminence in space • Strategically important for the US always to be able to claim the leading role as we explore space  Scientific discovery and intellectual stimulation • Unique opportunity for new scientific observations and discovery  Commercial stimulus • Pushing the frontier stimulates technological pay backs 3The Moon - the 1st Step to Mars and Beyond….  Gaining significant experience in operating away from Earth’s environment • Space will no longer be a destination visited briefly and tentatively • “Living off the land” • Human support systems  Developing technologies needed for opening the space frontier • Crew and cargo launch vehicles (125 metric ton class) • Earth ascent/entry system – Crew Exploration Vehicle • Mars ascent and descent propulsion systems (liquid oxygen / liquid methane)  Conduct fundamental science • Astronomy, physics, astrobiology, historical geology, exobiology Next Step in Fulfilling Our Destiny As Explorers 45  Meet all U.S. human spaceflight goals  Significant advancement over Apollo • Double the number of crew to lunar surface • Four times number of lunar surface crew-hours • • Enables a permanent human presence while preparing for Mars and beyond • Can make use of lunar resources • Significantly safer and more reliable  Minimum of two lunar missions per year  Provides a 125 metric ton launch vehicle for lunar and later Mars missions and beyond  Higher ascent crew safety than the Space Shuttle • 1 in 2,000 for the Crew Launch Vehicle • 1 in 220 for the Space Shuttle  U.S. system capable of servicing the International Space Station  Orderly transition of the Space Shuttle workforce  Requirements-driven technology program A Safe, Accelerated, Affordable and Sustainable Approach Global lunar surface access with anytime return to the Earth6 Lunar Surface Activities  Initial demonstration of human exploration beyond Earth orbit • Learning how to operate away from the Earth  Conduct scientific investigations • Use the moon as a natural laboratory  Planetary formation/differentiation, impact cratering, volcanism • Understand the integrated effects of gravity, radiation, and the planetary environment on the human body  Conduct in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) demonstrations • •  Begin to establish an outpost - one mission at a time • Enable longer term stays  Testing of operational techniques and demonstration of Learning to “live off the land” Excavation, transportation and processing of lunar resources technologies needed for Mars and beyond…..+Aristarchus Plateau++OceanusProcellarumMare Tranquillitatis+Rima Bode+Floor+Mare Smythii+Central FarsideHighlands+South Pole-Aitken BasinFloor1112141517165631724212017161393LunaSurveyor7 High Priority Lunar Exploration Sites Orientale Basin South Pole + North Pole+ Near Side Far Side ApolloPossible South Pole Outpost  The lunar South Pole is a likely candidate for outpost site  Elevated quantities of hydrogen, possibly water ice (e.g., Shackelton Crater)  Several areas with greater than 80% sunlight and less extreme temperatures  Incremental deployment of outpost – one mission at a time • Power system • Communications/navigation • Rovers • Habitat and laboratory modules 8Lunar “Flight Plan” – Getting to the Moon  Heavy lift launch of the Earth departure stage and lander  Launch of the Crew Exploration Vehicle (CEV)  CEV docks with Earth departure stage / lander in low Earth orbit  Transfer to the moon  CEV and lander arrive in low lunar orbit  Lunar landing 9Lunar “Flight Plan” – Returning to Earth  Ascent stage docks with CEV in low lunar  Lunar surface activities  Ascent from the surface orbit and returns to Earth  CEV enters the Earth’s atmosphere  CEV recovery 10Crew Exploration Vehicle  A blunt body capsule is the safest, most affordable and fastest approach • Separate Crew Module and Service Module configuration • Vehicle designed for lunar missions with 4 crew  Can accommodate up to 6 crew for Mars and Space Station missions • System also has the potential to deliver pressurized and unpressurized cargo to the Space Station if needed  5.5 meter diameter capsule scaled from Apollo • Significant increase in volume • Reduced development time and risk • Reduced reentry loads, increased landing stability and better crew visibility 11Servicing the International Space Station  NASA will invite industry to offer commercial crew and cargo delivery service to and from the Station  The CEV will be designed for lunar missions but, if needed, can service the International Space Station.  The CEV will be able to transport crew to and from the station and stay for 6 months 12 Continue to rely upon the existing U.S. expendablelaunch vehicle fleet for robotic missions For human missions, the safest, most reliable and mostaffordable launch system will be one derived from theSpace Shuttle systems• Capitalizes on human-rated systems and 85% of existingfacilities• The most straightforward growth path to later exploration superheavy lift needs 100 metric tons+ lift capacity