FOIA: NASA’s Global Exploration Strategy and Lunar Architecture

HQ_06361_ESMD_Lunar_Architecture.pdf
NASA Unveils Global Exploration Strategy and Lunar Architecture.
NASA unveils the initial elements of the Global Exploration Strategy and a proposed US lunar architecture, critical for achieving the return of humans to the moon.
Document date: 2006-12-04
Department: NASA
Author: Kelly Humphries
Document type: Release
pages: 3


Archivist's Notes: This document appears to be a press release intended to overview NASA’s plans to return to the moon, and the establishment of a base near the lunar pole beginning in 2020. The current plan calls for robotic missions as a precursor to support the future manned missions. The manned missions would consist of several seven-day visits to build an operational base, allowing for extended missions to Mars. The document is in excellent condition.

This document briefly describes the plan to return to the Moon and setup a lunar base. The plan is to have a solar powered base near one of the poles where they will learn how to draw from the available resources. I believe the reason for the base to be located near one of the poles is to try to extract water from the soil. The site for the base would first be explored using robotic rovers to determine if the site is suitable. Four person crews are to spend seven-day trips to the moon until living quarters are up and running, with the goal of an extended 180-day mission. This is all in preparation for a mission to Mars.

Related FOIA documents:
FOIA: Humanoids (robots) for Lunar and Planetary Surface Operations

Thanks Hal9000 for covering the document. I wanted to get an update from the “second Space Exploration Conference, Dec. 4-6, at the George R. Brown Convention Center” but my Google search to find any document was unsuccessful.
It is interesting to note that the space race seems to be over since experts from former opposing counties (China, Russia ….) attending the NASA conference. Well this has been for a while now with having an international space station cruising out there. Amazing how time changes things....

This is the letter/email taken from the pdf:

Dec. 4, 2006
From
Michael Braukus/Beth Dickey
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1979/2087
to
Kelly Humphries
Johnson Space Center, Houston
281-483-5111
RELEASE: 06-361
NASA UNVEILS GLOBAL EXPLORATION STRATEGY AND LUNAR ARCHITECTURE
HOUSTON – NASA on Monday unveiled the initial elements of the Global
Exploration Strategy and a proposed U.S. lunar architecture, two
critical tools for achieving the nation's vision of returning humans
to the moon.
NASA Deputy Administrator Shana Dale, who is guiding the long-term
strategy development effort among 14 of the world's space agencies,
said, "This strategy will enable interested nations to leverage their
capabilities and financial and technical contributions, making
optimum use of globally available knowledge and resources to help
energize a coordinated effort that will propel us into this new age
of discovery and exploration."
The Global Exploration Strategy focuses on two overarching issues: Why
we are returning to the moon and what we plan to do when we get
there. The strategy includes a comprehensive set of the reasons for
embarking upon human and robotic exploration of the moon. NASA's
proposed lunar architecture focuses on a third issue: How humans
might accomplish the mission of exploring the moon.
In April 2006, NASA initiated development of the Global Exploration
Strategy in order to meet a congressional mandate, as well as to
accomplish goals outlined in the agency's strategic plan and the
Vision for Space Exploration. The strategy is evolving from a lengthy
dialogue among more than 1,000 individuals, including experts from
NASA and 13 other space agencies, as well as non-governmental
organizations and commercial interests. Experts from the Australian,
Canadian, Chinese, European, French, German, British, Indian,
Italian, Japanese, Russian, South Korean and Ukrainian space agencies
participated.
NASA planners used the international group's deliberations as well as
input from academia, private sector and private citizens as the basis
for sketching a U.S. blueprint for a return to the moon. NASA's Lunar
Architecture Team, chartered in May 2006, concluded that the most
advantageous approach is to develop a solar-powered lunar base and to
locate it near one of the poles of the moon. With such an outpost,
NASA can learn to use the moon's natural resources to live off the
land, make preparations for a journey to Mars, conduct a wide range
of scientific investigations and encourage international
participation.
"The architecture work has resulted in an understanding of what is
required to implement and enable critical exploration objectives,"
said Doug Cooke, deputy associate administrator, Exploration Systems
Directorate. "This is all important as we continue the process we
have begun and better define the architecture and our various
exploration roles in what is a very exciting future for the United
States and the world."
As currently envisioned, an incremental buildup would begin with
four-person crews making several seven-day visits to the moon until
their power supplies, rovers and living quarters are operational. The
first mission would begin by 2020. These would be followed by 180-day
missions to prepare for journeys to Mars.
The proposed lunar architecture calls for robotic precursor missions
designed to support the human mission. These precursors include
landing site reconnaissance, natural resource assays and technology
risk reduction for the human lander.
Moving into 2007, NASA will continue to refine its lunar architecture,
maintaining the open dialogue initiated in 2006, to enhance further
the Global Exploration Strategy. NASA's goal is to enable a
sustainable space exploration effort in which participating
organizations can achieve individual goals with mutually beneficial
results.
Both the Global Exploration Strategy and NASA's lunar architecture
will be discussed in depth at the second Space Exploration
Conference, Dec. 4-6, at the George R. Brown Convention Center in
Houston.
For more on NASA's exploration plans, visit the Internet at:
www.nasa.gov...


[edit on 24-1-2008 by frozen_snowman]