NASA And ESA Complete
Comparative Exploration Architecture Study
(9 July 2008) Over the last 6 months, representatives from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the European Space Agency (ESA) have been engaged in detailed assessment of potential programs and technologies that when conducted co-operatively could one day support a human outpost on the Moon.
Moon base – artist's view (courtesy: ESA - AOES Medialab)
NASA and ESA experts jointly briefed the
results of the NASA/ESA Comparative Architecture Assessment on 7 and 8 July
during an ESA sponsored Integrated Architecture Review held at ESA's ESTEC
facility in Noordwijk, The Netherlands. The study, which commenced in January
2008, was intended to assess the degree to which NASA and ESA's lunar
exploration architecture concepts could complement, augment, or enhance the
exploration plans of one another. Technical teams from each agency engaged in a
series of joint, qualitative assessments of the potential scientific and
exploration benefits that arise from collaboration between the ESA capabilities
under study and NASA's Ares I and V space transportation systems and lunar
surface exploration architecture concepts.
NASA is currently studying
lunar surface exploration architecture concepts to support humans returning to
the Moon before 2020. Consistent with the principles of the Global Exploration
Strategy -- a framework for co-ordinating space exploration plans of 14
participating agencies from around the world --- NASA is pursuing its lunar
exploration plans under an "open architecture" approach, which will maximise
opportunities for international and commercial participation. NASA's
architecture concept calls for the transportation of astronauts and hardware to
the moon using the Ares I and Ares V launch vehicles, the Orion crew
exploration vehicle, and the Altair lunar lander, which are all currently under
development by NASA.
ESA is currently studying scenarios and associated
architectures for human space exploration, building upon its extensive human
space flight experience including its contributions to the International Space
Station Programme. While ESA's concept studies are currently at a conceptual
stage some of the scenarios assessed as part of this joint study included
potential future use of an automated, Ariane 5-based lunar cargo landing
system; European developed communication and navigation systems; ESA-developed
human rated systems such as an Ariane 5 crew transportation capability and
orbital outposts; and ESA-developed dedicated lunar surface elements such as
habitation and mobility systems.
Findings from the study included a
significant mutual interest in the potential development of lunar cargo landing
systems, communication and navigation systems, lunar orbital infrastructures,
and lunar surface systems such as habitats or mobility systems. The study also
identified the significant value to gained from redundant human crew
transportation capability.
Geoff Yoder, Directorate Integration Office
Director of NASA's Exploration Systems Mission Directorate said: "We are very
pleased to have worked with ESA on this comparative architecture assessment.
Since the announcement of the U.S. Space Exploration Policy, NASA has sought
and welcomed input from its international partners on NASA's lunar architecture
plans in areas of mutual interest. As future exploration plans mature around
the world, it is becoming increasingly important that we seek compatibilities
between NASA's plans and those of its potential future partners. The work we
did with ESA will serve as a useful model for discussions with other potential
partners as we begin to implement this very exciting mission."
Bruno
Gardini, ESA Exploration Programme Manager said: "ESA is preparing itself to a
round of decisions that will mark Europe's role in human spaceflight and
exploration for the decades to come. After the satisfaction of the successful
deployment of Columbus and ATV we are looking forward to enhancing our role in
the partnership for a sustained and robust space exploration programme where
human spaceflight is the cornerstone. The Moon is surely a important case study
and an useful test bed to thoroughly prepare for more distant destinations.
This architecture work is very useful to prioritise our proposals to European
decision-makers and define a European strategy. I would like to thank all the
people who have been involved and NASA for their co-operation".
(source:
ESA)
