NASA Exploration System
Architecture Study - Jan 2006
Summary
In May 2005, NASA commenced a 90-day study examining the likely architecture
and mission sequences required to fulfil President George Bush's space
exploration vision that would return America to the Moon and eventually
carry her on to Mars. As such, the study had four major aims:
- Assess the top-level Crew Exploration Vehicle (CEV) requirements
and plans that will enable the CEV to provide crew transport to the
International Space Station (ISS) and will accelerate the development
of the CEV and crew launch system to reduce the gap between Shuttle
retirement and CEV Initial Operational Capability (IOC)
- Define the top-level requirements and configurations for crew and
cargo launch systems to support the lunar and Mars exploration programs
- Develop a reference exploration architecture concept to support
sustained human and robotic lunar exploration operations; and
- Identify key technologies required to enable and significantly
enhance these reference
exploration systems and a reprioritization of near-term and far-term
technology investments.
The study itself encompassed input from all branches of the agency,
and concluded in July 2005, with initial findings first issued in October
2005. Michael Griffin, NASA Administrator later approved the final version
of the report, scheduling for a January 2006 release.
The report itself comprises two parts: the first presents an analysis
and recommendations concerning the technologies and potential approaches
NASA could take to fulfilling the Vision for Space Exploration, which
we reproduce in full in .PDF format here.
The section section of the report comprises a number of appndices which
have not been cleared for public consumption on the grounds that they
contain sensitive material. However, some of these appendices are referred
to in the text of the main part of the report.
When viewing the report, please note that it is some 752 pages in length,
and while it is presented here broken down by the major chapters for
ease of reference, many of the file sections are large (up to 7.5Mb
in size).
Report Table of Contents (.pdf documents)
1. Executive Summary
2. Introduction
3. Ground Rules and Assumptions
4. Lunar Architecture
5. Crew Exploration Vehicle
6. Launch Vehicles and Earth Departure Stages
7. Operations
8. Risk and Reliability
9 . Technology Assessment
10. Test and Evaluation
11. Integrated Master Schedule
12. Cost
13. Summary and Recommendations
14. Architecture Roadmap
15. Architecture Advantages
Acronyms and Abbreviations
