From LEO, to the Moon and Then Mars
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62nd International Astronautical Congress, Capetown, SA. Copyright ©2011 by the International Astronautical Federation. All rights reserved. SYMPOSIUM ON HUMAN SPACE ENDEAVOURS IAC-11.B3.1.8 THE GLOBAL EXPLORATION ROADMAP Bernhard Hufenbach ESA ESTEC, Noordwijk, Netherlands, [email protected] Kathleen C. Laurini NASA, Headquarters, Washington, DC, USA, [email protected] Jean-Claude Piedboeuf Canadian Space Agency (CSA), Longueuil, QC, Canada, [email protected] Britta Schade Deutsches Zentrum fur Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V. (DLR), Bonn, Germany, [email protected] Kohtaro Matsumoto JAXA JSPEC, Sagimihara, Japan, [email protected] Francois Spiero CNES Headquarters, Paris, France, [email protected] Andrea Lorenzoni Italian Space Agency, ASI, Rome, Italy, [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 agencies1 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. Robotic exploration is considered an important component of expanding human presence in space in order to increase the knowledge of future destinations, take steps to reduce risks to human explorers, and ensure the human missions can deliver maximum scientific discoveries. Sharing this common understanding of space exploration, ISECG participating agencies have started concrete discussions on the purpose and goals of exploring different destinations. They have defined associated mission scenarios outlining the overall exploration sequence. Agencies have recognized that (a) different destinations and related mission scenarios require different challenges to be mastered and risks to be addressed and (b) opportunities exist to exploit synergetic capabilities linked to different destinations. Senior agency managers representing agencies contributing to ISECG have agreed in June 2010 to start the development of the Global Exploration Roadmap (GER), recognizing that such a roadmap will be evolving and responding to new programmatic priorities, scientific discoveries and technological breakthroughs. The Global Exploration Roadmap is intended to serve as a tool or international reference framework for Facilitating the convergence of international human space exploration mission plans, programmes and policies and thereby enhancing opportunities for collaboration and coordination; Maximizing the benefits resulting from each planned mission, considering also opportunities it enables for the development of partnerships and follow-on mission scenarios; 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. IAC-11-B3.1.8 Page 1 of 10 62nd International Astronautical Congress, Capetown, SA. Copyright ©2011 by the International Astronautical Federation. All rights reserved. Encouraging timely and coordinated investments in the development of enabling technologies and their demonstration, with special emphasis on a near-term commitment to fully use the International Space Station (ISS) for preparing future human exploration missions. Through the development of the GER, ISECG participating agencies demonstrate their interest in a globally coordinated space exploration effort along the principles of the vision described in the Global Exploration Strategy (GES) and for the benefit of the global society. For more information on the ISECG please consult the ISECG website at www.globalspaceexploration.org or contact the ISECG Secretariat at: [email protected]. I. INTRODUCTION The development of the 1st version of the GER focused initially on developing the adequate In June 2010, ISECG participating agencies started framework. The framework includes three key the development of the Global Exploration Roadmap elements: (GER) and released its first version in September 2011. As resource availability becomes critical at ● Common Goals: Many ISECG participating global level and interest in cooperation increases, agencies have devoted significant effort in agencies will benefit from the work in developing the the last years to defining their goals and GER by informing near-term investment decisions, objectives for exploration, often engaging identifying partnerships and renewing the spirit of their stakeholder communities in this exploration. process. An initial assessment of individual agency goals and objectives was conducted The GER serves as a common planning tool for during the development of the GES. This participating agencies driven by the shared interest to was followed by a dialog on lunar enhance coordination and cooperation for exploration. exploration goals and objectives during Consistent with existing policies and plans of development of the ISECG Reference participating agencies, the GER introduces a long- Architecture for Human Lunar Exploration range strategy for future human exploration mission (see Reference 1). Building on this body of scenarios. This common strategy leads to a work, the commonality assessment of sustainable human exploration of Mars. It begins exploration goals and objectives has been with full use of the International Space Station to extended to all exploration destinations prepare for exploration. The ISS is not only an leading to development of eigth high-level excellent in-space platform for demonstrating common goals and associated objectives. technologies and capabilities and performing research, but it is the current focus of the human spaceflight ● The Long-range Strategy: The development program for most nations. With this comes the of the long-range strategy has been informed opportunity to use the ISS to prepare for the next by detailed work done by ISECG steps. participating agencies. This common long- range strategy reflects ISECG participating The GER will be regularly updated to reflect the agency’s policies, as far as existing, and evolving status of agency’s policies and plans and builds on ISECG participating agency’s outcome of additional assessments. The publication preparatory activities and plans. As said of the first version reflects work in progress and the previously, it reflects a common desire to decision to share this work early has been driven by fully utilize the ISS and progressively the interest to engage the broader stakeholder develop and demonstrate the capabilities community in the discussion. It is noted that the necessary for humans to sustainably explore process put in place for developing and maintaining the surface of Mars. The strategy is the GER may contribute to aligning exploration elaborated through mission scenarios driven policies of participating agencies which is an by the common goals. To further guide the essential condition for succeeding in the development of mission scenarios, high- implementation of sustainable space exploration. level strategic principles have been developed. These principles reflect strategic considerations of ISECG participating IAC-11-B3.1.8 Page 2 of 10 62nd International Astronautical Congress, Capetown, SA. Copyright ©2011 by the International Astronautical Federation. All rights reserved. agencies which have been informed by ● Search for Life: Determine if life is or was individual agencies studies, lessons learned present outside of Earth and focus on from the ISS programme (see Reference 2) understanding the systems that support or and previous work on the ISECG Reference supported it. Architecture for Human Lunar Exploration. ● Extend Human Presence: Extend human ● Near-term areas for Coordination and presence beyond low-Earth orbit with a Cooperation: Preparatory activities currently focus on continually increasing the number implemented by participating agencies have of individuals that can be supported at these been grouped into five areas: destinations, the duration of time that individuals can remain at these destinations, o Robotic precursor missions; and the level of self-sufficiency. o Development of enabling technologies; ● Develop Exploration Technologies and o Use of ISS for preparation of exploration missions beyond low Capabilities: Develop the knowledge, Earth orbit; capabilities, and infrastructure required to live and work at destinations beyond low- o Development of new systems and infrastructure; Earth orbit through development and testing of reliable and maintainable technologies, o Analogue activities. systems and operations in an off-Earth The activities performed in each of these environment. areas are designed to prepare for human missions in the future. It is recognised that ● Perform Science to Support Human the existence of a common long-range Exploration: Reduce the risks and increase strategy can facilitate coordination of these the productivity of future missions in our preparatory activities and processes have solar system by characterizing and been put in place to enable this to happen. mitigating the effect of the space At the same time, early sharing of environment on human health. information on these activities areas will help to establish cooperative