NASA shares two new Mars moon architecture white papers

NASA has published two white papers related to the agency’s lunar architecture efforts on Mars. The documents, one on lunar mobility drivers and needs, and one on lunar surface payloads, detail NASA’s latest thinking on specific areas of its lunar exploration strategy.

While NASA has established an annual pace of releasing new documents related to its Moon-to-Mars architecture, the agency occasionally releases mid-cycle findings to share key information in areas of interest to its stakeholders.

The first paper, “Lunar Mobility Drivers and Needs,” discusses the need to move cargo and assets to the lunar surface, from landing sites to use areas, and some of the factors that will significantly affect mobility systems.

The second paper, “Lunar Surface Cargo,” analyzes some of the current projected needs and identifies current capability gaps for transporting cargo to the lunar surface.

The Mars Moon architecture approach includes feedback from US industry, academia, international partners, and the NASA workforce. The agency typically releases a series of technical documents at the end of its annual review cycle, including an update to the Architecture Definition Document and white papers that elaborate on frequently raised topics.

Under NASA’s Artemis campaign, the agency will lay the groundwork for long-term scientific exploration of the Moon, land the first woman, first black person and its first international astronaut partner on the lunar surface, and prepare for human expeditions in March. the benefit of all.