66th International Astronautical Congress, Jerusalem, Israel IAC-15, A 5, 1, 1, X30756 INTERNATIONAL MISSIONS TO LUNAR VICINITY AND SURFACE - NEAR-TERM MISSION SCENARIO OF THE GLOBAL SPACE EXPLORATION ROADMAP Bernhard Hufenbach ESA ESTEC, Noordwijk, Netherlands, [email protected] Kathleen C. Laurini NASA, NASA Headquarters, Washington D.C., USA, [email protected] Naoki Satoh JAXA, Japan, [email protected] Christian Lange Canadian Space Agency (CSA), Longueuil, QC, Canada, [email protected] Roland Martinez NASA Johnson Space Center, USA, [email protected] Juergen Hill Deutsches Zentrum fur Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V. (DLR), Bonn, Germany, [email protected] Markus Landgraf ESA ESTEC, Noordwijk, Netherlands, Markus. [email protected] Alessandro Bergamasco ESA ESTEC, Noordwijk, Netherlands, [email protected] The International Space Exploration Coordination Group (ISECG) was established in response to “The Global Exploration Strategy: The Framework for Coordination” developed by fourteen space agencies 1 and released in May 2007. This GES Framework Document recognizes that preparing for human space exploration is a stepwise process, starting with basic knowledge and culminating in a sustained human presence in space. ISECG has published in August 2013 the 2nd iteration of the Global Exploration Roadmap2 (GER) and space agencies’ focus since then on expanding the definition of the near-term mission scenario (see IAC-13.B3.1,8x16946 and IAC-14,B3,1,10,x22313). Near-term missions in the time-frame up to 2030 target the lunar vicinity and lunar surface. The work of space agencies participating in ISECG focuses in particular on 1 In alphabetical order: ASI (Italy), BNSC – now UKSA (United Kingdom), CNES (France), CNSA (China), CSA (Canada), CSIRO (Australia), DLR (Germany), ESA (European Space Agency), ISRO (India), JAXA (Japan), KARI (Republic of Korea), NASA (United States of America), NSAU (Ukraine), Roscosmos (Russia). “Space Agencies” refers to government organizations responsible for space activities. 2 The GER is non-binding, but expected to serve as important input to individual agency decision making, enabling agencies to assess their near-term investments in view of their future role in and contribution to a long term global exploration endeavor. For more information on the ISECG please consult the ISECG website at www.globalspaceexploration.org or contact the ISECG Secretariat at: [email protected]. 1 66th International Astronautical Congress, Jerusalem, Israel • Technical and programmatic definition of extended duration crew missions in lunar vicinity, enabled by an evolvable Deep Space Habitat (eDSH) deployed in lunar vicinity, starting early next decade. These missions are considered as a common strategic step towards enabling human lunar surface missions and preparing human missions to Mars. • Defining innovative mission concepts leveraging on the presence of humans and a human-tended infrastructure in lunar vicinity and robotic elements on the surface of the Moon. These missions are driven by the goals to advance lunar exploration goals, to prepare for later human lunar surface exploration missions and to demonstrate technologies critical for the implementation of a Mars sample return mission. • Engaging the global science community for articulating the unique value of humans for advancing exploration goals and identifying opportunities that are enabled by humans and the human-robotic partnership in space for advancing science. • Coordinating agencies’ and private sector driven efforts for increasing the knowledge about lunar volatiles and the use of planetary volatiles as in-situ resource for exploration. • Assessing space agencies’ technology development plans and roadmaps for identifying near-term technology gaps for implementation the near-term mission scenario as well as technology gaps related to the implementation of human Mars missions. This paper will summarise the status of the definition of international Design Reference Missions (DRM’s) targeting lunar vicinity and lunar surface. It will in particular highlight the value of these missions for advancing the implementation of the Global Exploration Roadmap and identify opportunities for international cooperation. The publication of the 3rd iteration of the GER is not planned before spring 2017, but this paper will provide early insights into envisaged updates of the GER. INTRODUCTION mission theme represents a step which is achievable in the near-term and is critical for The mission scenario of the ISECG GER advancing the development and includes three different mission themes, all demonstration of capabilities for future considered useful steps on the pathway to exploration missions targeting the Moon and enabling human Mars exploration, the deep space. The interest in and potential to common long-term goal of the ISECG realise this mission theme is currently participating space agencies. assessed within the ISS partnership. 1. Exploration of a Near-Earth Asteroid – 3. Humans to the Lunar Surface – robotically deflecting an asteroid to enable missions to the lunar surface providing its exploration in the lunar vicinity to opportunities to address lunar exploration demonstrate advanced electric propulsion, objectives benefiting from human presence crew transportation and operation on the surface and advancing habitation, capabilities. This mission theme responds to mobility and other planetary exploration a NASA initiative and includes capabilities. Many agencies consider Moon opportunities for partnership. surface as a near-term destination for humans and consider such missions as an 2. Extended Duration Crew Missions – essential step in preparation for human Mars long-duration missions in the lunar vicinity surface missions. Lunar missions have been for advancing deep space exploration studied individually and collectively by capabilities and creating innovative ISECG participating Agencies, for several opportunities for exploration of the Moon years. Space agencies participating to through a human robotic partnership. This ISECG are working on consolidating the definition of this mission theme. 2 66th International Astronautical Congress, Jerusalem, Israel The GER describes how these missions astronaut crew will also perform assessment prepare for human Mars exploration through of the resource potential of the asteroid demonstration of critical capabilities, material and therefore asteroids like it. technologies, operational concepts as well as by driving enabling research on human In the last year, NASA has significantly health and performance in deep space. advanced mission formulation activities. NASA has completed a thorough assessment An integrated interim status report on of robotic mission capture options and progress achieved in defining all three selected a preferred approach. This mission themes has been provided at the approach has been developed and its IAC 2014 [Ref. 1]. Since October 2014, feasibility established through a Mission significant progress has been achieved: Concept Review. As a result, the project was given approval to proceed into Phase A. • By NASA in the definition of the Asteroid Redirect Mission (ARM) Testing of mission concepts and hardware concept. continues in order to reduce development • By the ISS partnership in assessing program risk and uncertainty. For example, optional implementation scenarios for a capture module prototype has been realising the extended duration mission. constructed and is being evaluated. • By agencies participating in ISECG in assessing robotic and human lunar A key objective of the Asteroid Redirect surface mission scenarios enabled by a Mission is to demonstrate solar electric habitat placed and operated in cis-lunar propulsion. Advances on the current state of space. the art have been demonstrated, towards the kind of system needed for human space This paper recalls briefly progress achieved exploration architectures. A ‘request for in defining the first two mission themes and proposals’ associated with development of then provides a more articulated description the solar electric propulsion system for the of robotic and human lunar surface missions Asteroid Redirect Mission has been released. enabled by an eDSH. NASA remains open to international and ASTEROID REDIRECT MISSION commercial partners interested in the mission and/or opportunities enabled by the NASA continues the work to formulate the mission. Discussions with potential Asteroid Redirect Mission. This mission international and commercial partners are encompasses a robotic mission to ongoing. rendezvous with a large asteroid in its native orbit and a follow-on human mission to The Asteroid Redirect Mission demonstrates explore the asteroid material. The robotic how the availability of capabilities for spacecraft will remove a large boulder from human exploration beyond low-Earth orbit the surface of the asteroid. While in the will provide the opportunity to address vicinity of the asteroid, the robotic challenges faced by humanity. It also spacecraft will also collect data on the provides the chance to demonstrate and asteroid and test techniques which could be advance some of the technologies and used in the future to deflect a large asteroid techniques which will be required for on a possibly dangerous near-Earth implementing future missions depicted in trajectory. The robotic spacecraft will the GER. transport the boulder to a stable orbit near the Moon. Soon after, an astronaut