Plans for Human Exploration 

Beyond Low Earth OrbitDoug Cooke, AA ESMDMarch 4, 2011
• Discovery – By addressing the grand challenges about 

ourselves, our world, and our cosmic surroundings

• Innovation – By providing opportunities to develop new 

technologies, new jobs, and a new market

• Inspiration – By encouraging students to explore, learn, 

contribute to our nation’s economic competitiveness, and build a better future 

Exploration Outcomes
A Bounty of Opportunity for Human Explorers

HEO/GEO/Lagrange Points:– Microgravity destinations beyond LEO– Opportunities for construction, fueling 

and repair of complex in-space systems 

– Excellent locations for advanced space 

telescopes and Earth observers

Near Earth Asteroids:– Compelling science questions: How 

did the Solar System form? Where did Earth’s water and organics comfrom?

– Planetary defense: Understanding 

and mitigating the threat of impact

– Potential for valuable space resour– Excellent stepping stone for Mars

Earth’s Moon:– Witness to the birth of the Earth and inner 

planets

– Has critical resources to sustain humans– Significant opportunities for commercial 

and international collaboration

Mars and its Moons:– A premier destination for discovery

Is there life beyond Earth? How diMars evolve?

– True possibility for extended, even 

permanent, stays

– Significant opportunities for 

international collaboration

– Technological driver for space syste
A New Path: The NASA Authorization Act of 2010

• Congress approved and the President signed the National 

Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2010

– Bipartisan support for human exploration beyond Low Earth Orbit

• The law authorizes:

– Extension of the International Space Station until at least 2020– Strong support for a commercial space transportation industry– Development of a multi-purpose Crew Vehicle and heavy lift launch 

capabilities

– A “flexible path” approach to space exploration opening up vast 

opportunities including near-Earth asteroids (NEA) and Mars

– New space technology investments to increase the capabilities beyond 

low Earth orbit
• Funds Exploration Programs at $3,949M-$243M above FY 2011 Authorized Level• The President’s FY 2012 Budget Request funds a diversified portfolio of activities in huma

spaceflight that are designed to maximize our use of current capabilities such as the International Space Station (ISS), execute innovative approaches to ensure U.S. leadershilow Earth orbit (LEO), and position the Agency to explore the frontiers of the inner solar system: – Enables substantial partnership with the commercial space industry to provide safe an

cost effective human access to LEO – Funds key systems development for exploration through the Space Launch System (SLand Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle (MPCV) capable of traveling to multiple destinations beyond LEO – Provides for key human research and critical capability development required for futuhuman exploration beyond LEO

FY 2012 President’s Budget Overview 
Budget Enables Significant Progress on 

Key Human Spaceflight Activities

• Specific content of human spaceflight portfolio as reflected in FY 2012 

budget request validated by NASA framework studies and highly consistent with the NASA Authorization Act of 2010

– ISS being utilized for critical exploration research and demonstrations– Cargo and crew access to ISS being developed through innovative 

partnerships with private sector

– SLS and MPCV are initial essential capabilities required for NASA and 

the U.S. to lead exploration beyond LEO § These vehicles provide capabilities needed for exploration of many 

destinations, including cis-lunar space, the moon, asteroids and Mars and its environs

§ Formulation of these Programs is proceeding aggressively and 

progress will be significant in FY 2012
Budget Enables Significant Progress 

on Key Human Spaceflight Activities

• Pursuing cutting edge human research and innovative 

development of needed life support, crew habitat and other future exploration capabilities– Exploration of more complex destinations will be 

enabled as key capabilities are developed over time

• Leveraging the best of NASA, industry, academia, and 

partner capabilities while planning innovative, costeffective approaches to development and future operations
High Thrust in-Space Propulsion Needed

Incremental Expansion of Human Exploration Capabi

Hig

Mission Duration

Key

Capabilities required at each destination are 

determined by the mission and packaged into 

elements. Capability-Driven Framework 

approach seeks to package these capabilities 

into a logical progression of common 

elements to minimize DDT&E and embrace 

incremental development. 
Capability-Enabled Framework

Heavy Lift Launch Vehicle/Space Launch SystemMulti-Purpose Crew VehicleAdvanced Spacewalking Capability Long Duration Habitat/Advanced Life SupportSpace Exploration VehicleAdvanced In-Space PropulsionSurface Capabilities

NASA will open the inner solar system to human explorers via investments in capabilities that will enable more complex missions over time. 

Capability
Human Exploration Capabilities Theme Overview

• Theme budgeted at $2.8B in FY 2012 (with labor)• The Human Exploration Capability (HEC) theme will develop launch 

and spaceflight vehicles that will provide initial capability for crewed exploration missions beyond LEO

– Funded at $1.8B (with labor) in FY 2012, the Space Launch 

System (SLS) program will develop the heavy lift vehicle that will launch the crew vehicle, other modules, and cargo for these missions

– Funded at $1.0B (with labor) in FY 2012, the Multi-Purpose Crew 

Vehicle (MPCV) program develops the vehicle that will carry the crew to orbit, provide emergency abort capability, sustain the crew while in space, and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities

– Required Ground Operations and Mission Operations will largely 

be funded from these budget lines
Human Exploration Capabilities Theme:

Significant Recent Progress

SLS and MPCV are moving out aggressively an

deliberatively: On track for delivering updated SLS/

Authorization Act report in Spring/Summer 20

• Planning Teams for MPCV at Johnson Space Center and SLS at Marshall Space Flight 

Center are in place and active

– Over 200 people working SLS– MPCV team is prior Orion team– ESMD is in the process of standing up SLS and MPCV Program Offices

• The SLS team is developing the Program requirements working towards Mission 

Concept Review and System Requirements Review in FY 2012

– Developing full vehicle concept that can be delivered within the available budget– Using internal study teams and external Broad Agency Announcements (BAAs) for 

input

– Evaluating existing contract scope against SLS requirements (as required by

Federal Acquisition Regulations)

– Considering early test flight timing and content

• The MPCV team continues to implement the current Orion Project plan

– Documenting that MPCV requirements same as current Orion/Lockheed Martin 

scope

– Technical progress continues 

– Orion Ground Test Article recently shipped from 

Michoud Assembly

– Facility to Lockheed Martin Denver for testing– Considering early test flight timing and content
Human Exploration Capability

Near-Term Plans
Space Launch System Overview 

Ares/Shuttle-derived Reference Vehicle Design

• NASA has selected a Reference Vehicle Design that aligns with the NASA 

Authorization Act as a starting point for assessment of an affordable, sustainable, and realistic Space Launch System

– Heavy Lift Launch Vehicle (HLLV) with an initial lift capability of 70-100mt 

evolvable to the ultimate capability of 130 mT

– Reference Vehicle Design is derived from Ares and Shuttle hardware– Capability to lift the MPCV

• SLS Reference Vehicle Design

– 27.5’ Diameter LOX/LH2 Core Stage– Five RS25 based engines using Shuttle assets then RS25E expendable 

derivative

– Two 5-Segment Ares derived SRBs– Delivers 108.6 tons to 30x130 nmi orbit

• Performing trades on evolving system to 130mT

– Add Upper Stage with one or two J-2X Upper Stage Engines
Space Launch System Approach

• Pursuing multiple activities that will enable a robust and cost effective SLS Program

– Government Requirements Analysis Cycle (RAC)

§ Validate decisions through rigorous technical, management, acquisition and 

process assessments

§ Develop and validate vehicle-level requirements and provide a concept that me

the requirements and available budget

– SLS Study Contracts (HLLV BAA)

§ In November 2010, NASA awarded 13 study contracts for a 6-month period of 

performance

§ Working with industry on innovative ideas for implementing affordable HLLV 

architectures

§ Results will feed into NASA’s decision process for SLS

– Evaluating current contracts for applicability to meeting SLS requirements

• Constellation Ares contracts will continue during near-term SLS formulation activities to 

minimize workforce disruptions until decisions are finalized

• NASA is in the process of standing up the SLS Program Office 
Space Launch System Near-term Activities
Ares Progress Applicable to Space Launch System

J-2X Gas Generator Testing at Mars

Space Flight Center

DM-2 Static Motor Firing in Utah
Meeting the Challenge: 

Delivering an Affordable and Achievable Space Launch System

• Given these constrained economic times, NASA has embraced the challenge to deliver human 

spaceflight systems for lower cost, and the opportunity to become more efficient, innovative and agile in our Programs, including SLS – The SLS team is examining multiple strategies to increase efficiency and agility while 

maximizing the creative use of existing capabilities

• Examples being considered in formulating SLS plans: – Smart infrastructure consolidation, both in NASA and our contractors – Use of common parts/common designs – encourage bulk buys – Design for efficient operations from the beginning of the Program – Ensure requirements are at appropriate level of specificity to ensure ability to apply innovativ

approaches to meeting them – Right size and right focus for Government insight/oversight activities

• NASA has reviewed affordability initiatives by our industry partners: – Pratt and Whitney Rocketdyne infrastructure consolidation, manufacturing and supply chain 

approach – Alliant Techsystems infrastructure and cost reduction initiatives – NASA estimates incorporate these potential savings where appropriate, and an affordable SLwill require such measures
Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle Overview

Orion-derived Reference Vehicle Design

• NASA has selected the beyond-LEO version of the Orion 

design (“block 2”) as the MPCV Reference Vehicle Design

– Spacecraft to serve as the primary crew vehicle for 

missions beyond LEO

– Capable of conducting regular in-space operations 

(rendezvous, docking, extravehicular activity [EVA]) in conjunction with payloads delivered by SLS for missions beyond LEO

• Preliminary trace of top-level MPCV requirements 

suggests that MPCV is within scope of current Orion contract (see next slide)

• Final decisions on NASA’s plans for the MPCV will be 

made during the Acquisition Strategy review process by Summer 2011
Key Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle Driving Requirem

(preliminary) Similar to Orion’s Capabilities
Orion Progress Applicable to MPCV

Export Controlled Information

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Pad Abort-1

Heatshield Carrier Structure Parachute Drop Test

Pad Abort-1

Service Module R-4D Engine Test LAS GTA 
Ground Test Article PORT

Export Controlled Information

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AR&D testing Orion Mockup

Orion Progress Applicable to MPCV
Meeting the Challenge: 

Delivering an Affordable and Achievable Multi-Purpose Crew Vehi

• Given these constrained economic times, NASA has embraced the challenge to deliver human spacef

systems for lower cost, and the opportunity to become more efficient, innovative and agile in our Pro

including MPCV

• Numerous innovative affordability measures are already being implemented by the Orion Project wh

could carry over into MPCV. Examples include: – Significant streamlining government insight and oversight activities

• 70% reduction in NASA oversight – use risk-driven oversight approach – Implementing an incremental building of vehicle capabilities: Phase costs to fit within annual bud

allocations while continuing to make significant progress – Planning a more innovative and cost effective qualification plan, utilizing distributed test labs and component-level qualifications

• In partnership with the Orion prime contractor and its subs, additional affordability measures are bei

explored, including: – Consolidating facilities – Reuse of test assets – Partnerships
Commercial Spaceflight Theme Overview

• Theme is budgeted at $850M in FY 2012 (with labor)• The Commercial Spaceflight theme provides incentives for commercial providers to develop and oper

safe, reliable and affordable commercial systems to transport crew and cargo to and from the ISS and 

• In FY 2012, activities will transition from completing commercial cargo capability milestones* to expa

NASA's efforts to develop commercial crew capability to the ISS and LEO 

*Any Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) activity in FY 2012 will be funded with prior year dollars • Objectives of Commercial Crew: 

– Facilitate the development of a U.S. 

commercial crew space transportation capability with the goal of achieving safe, reliable and cost effective access to and from LEO and the ISS

– Once the capability is matured and expected 

to be available to the Government and other customers, NASA could purchase commercial services to meet its ISS crew transportation needs
Recent Commercial Spaceflight Accomplishments

Commercial Cargo/COTS:• Orbital Sciences Corporation completed several milestones over the past year including a Critical Design Re

completion of the space capsule service module core and a successful cargo integration demonstration with astronaut participation

• Space Exploration Technologies completed many challenging milestones culminating in the first successful C

demonstration flight in Dec. 2010 which demonstrated launch of the Falcon 9, separation of the Dragon spacapsule, two orbits, orbital maneuvering, safe reentry and descent, and space capsule recovery after splash

Commercial Crew Development (CCDev):• Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) completed space vehicle propulsion hybrid motor testing and the Dream C

spacecraft composite test article and structural testing

• Blue Origin completed multiple pusher launch abort motor tests and the manufacture, assembly and struct

testing of their crew composite pressure vessel

• Paragon Space Development Corporation manufactured and tested an air revitalization system engineering 

development unit, and successfully completed a Preliminary Design Review

• Boeing matured their commercial crew system architecture and design through a Systems Definition Review

demonstrated crew module mockup, heat shield fabrication, avionics testing, the landing attenuation systebags and crew module pressure shell fabrication

• United Launch Alliance (ULA) developed and demonstrated a prototype system to provide real time launch 

health monitoring, providing the earliest warning of impending launch failures

NASA published the Commercial Crew Transportation System Requirements for NASA LEO Missions on 

Dec. 9, 2010 and is on schedule to meet all 2010 NASA Authorization Act requirements for Commercial C
Commercial Crew Development Accomplishmen

ULA Emergency Detection System Prototype

and Test Bed

SNC Motor Firing Boeing Air Bag Test Article Paragon Life Support System Components 

Blue Origin Composite Crew Pressure 
Commercial Crew Development Round 2 

• CCDev 2 Announcement for Proposals was released to industry on October 25, 2010. Proposals 

were due on December 13, 2010

• The goals of CCDev 2 investments are to: 

– Advance orbital commercial crew transportation system (CTS) concepts– Enable significant progress on maturing the design and development of elements of the 

system, such as launch vehicles and spacecraft, while ensuring crew and passenger safety

– Ultimately accelerate the availability of U.S. CTS capabilities

• New competition open to all U.S. commercial providers for NASA Space Act Agreements (SAAs)• Pay-for-Performance milestones, April 2011 to no later than May 2012• CCDev 2 awards are planned to coincide with the FY11 appropriation which will determine the 

exact amount available for awards

• NASA is currently in a BLACK-OUT period regarding CCDev 2. All information above is public an

has been previously disclosed.
Commercial Crew Structure and Timeline
Exploration Research and Development Overview

• Theme budgeted at $289M in FY 2012 (with labor) • The Exploration Research and Development theme is comprised of the 

Human Research Program (HRP) funded at $164M in FY 2012(with labor), and the Advanced Exploration Systems Program (AES) funded at $124M in FY 2012 (with labor)

• These Programs provide the knowledge and advanced human 

spaceflight capabilities required to undertake human exploration beyond 

Earth 

– HRP provides countermeasures, diagnostics, technologies and 

design tools to keep crews safe and productive on long-duration space missions, and makes extensive use of the ISS 

– AES will focus on continuing current development of key required 

capabilities for future human exploration beyond the SLS and MPCV including advanced life support, EVA, and prototyping of other beyond LEO exploration systems

§ In future years, AES will support robotic missions of opportunity 

to obtain required precursor measurements of human spaceflight destinations
Exploration Research and Development 

Changes from FY 2011

• In FY 2012, the Exploration Technology Development and Demonstration (ETDD) Progra

will be transferred to the Office of Chief Technologist (OCT) to place it in a technologyfocused organization 

– ETDD includes technology demonstration flight missions and long-range exploration 

technology development projects that will be integrated with similar activities in thOCT Space Technology Program.

– AES activities remaining in Exploration are uniquely related to crew safety and 

strongly coupled to current and future vehicle development

• Exploration Precursor Robotic Missions have been deferred in FY 2012 

– In FY 2013, a new activity, jointly funded by ESMD and Science Mission Directorate 

(SMD) will pursue missions of opportunity to gather required data on potential destinations for human exploration 
Technology Applicability to Destination Overview 
Technology Applicability to Destination Overview (
Human Research Program Overview

• HRP supports risk-driven space biomedical research critical to crew health 

and safety:

– Investigates and mitigates the highest risks to astronaut health and 

performance to support NASA human exploration missions 

– Conducts fundamental and applied research on the human system to 

provide countermeasures, knowledge, technologies, and tools to enable safe, reliable, and productive human space exploration 

– Uses the ISS and ground-based research facilities to study the effects of 

prolonged spaceflight on human physiology and behavior

• Objectives and research goals:

– Exploration-enabling projects in biomedical technologies and 

development, space radiation research, behavioral health and performance

– Research and technology to fully utilize ISS as a biomedical laboratory– Enhance science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) 

education, projects that return Earth benefits

– International collaborations
Human Research Program 

Plans for FY 2012

• ISS utilization

– ISS is critical for mitigating human health risks relevant to exploration and is an 

important test bed for space biomedical technology

– Implement 15-20 ISS biomedical flight experiments per each 6-month mission– Deliver the next-generation space biomedical ultrasound device to enhance 

human research facility capability on the ISS

• Develop space biomedical capabilities

– Provide space medical imaging capability for diagnosis of crew fractures– Submit approach for preventing bone loss in space by using pharmaceuticals in 

conjunction with an in-flight exercise

• Enhance crew radiation safety 

– Deliver design tool for vehicle radiation shielding assessments– Release the acute radiation risk model update

• Engage the national research community 

– NASA research announcements that address crew health risks and space 

radiation safety
Advanced Exploration Systems Program Overview

• Although a new title, AES continues ongoing work to develop and demonstrate 

prototype systems for human spaceflight capabilities critical for safe human exploration beyond LEO

– Focus areas include life support, habitation, extravehicular activity– AES demonstrates these prototype systems in ground test beds, Earth-based 

field and underwater tests, and ISS flight experiments

– In future years, AES will support robotic missions of opportunity to future 

human spaceflight destinations in collaboration with SMD and international partners

– AES will leverage large numbers of civil servants on in-house, exciting 

development work

• AES Objectives:

– Advanced development of required exploration capabilities and systems to 

reduce risk, lower lifecycle cost, and validate operational concepts for future human missions beyond Earth orbit

– Use innovative approaches for rapid systems development and provide handson experience for the NASA workforce– Infuse new technologies into exploration missions– Support robotic missions of opportunity to characterize potential destinations 

for human exploration
Advanced Exploration Systems Program

Plans for FY 2012

• Develop a ground-based test bed for demonstrating highly-reliable life support systems 

to enable long-duration missions

• Develop and test components for an advanced spacesuit to improve the ability of 

astronauts to assemble and service in-space systems, and to explore the surfaces of the moon, Mars and asteroids

• Develop design concepts for future space exploration vehicles and deep space habitats• Conduct ISS and ground-based analog testing to validate operational concepts for long 

endurance space missions including exploration of near-Earth asteroids

• Plan for future robotic missions of opportunity for precursor measurements with SMD 

and international partners
NASA Exploration: Going Beyond

• NASA’s human spaceflight program seeks to extend human presence throughout the solar 

system

• The FY 2012 Budget Request supports all critical aspects of a vibrant human spaceflight pro

and all components of the NASA Authorization Act of 2010: 

– Safe, affordable LEO access with Commercial Crew and leveraging ISS for future explorat– Significant progress on NASA’s beyond-LEO vehicles 

– the SLS and MPCV

– Investment in required research and capabilities development for beyond LEO human 

missions

• Affordability measures are key to a successful future• NASA Exploration accepts the challenge to execute our programs within available budgets 

– 

will leverage prior investments creatively to enable a sustained, exciting future for human exploration