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Pioneering	Space:	NASA’s	Next	Steps	on	the	Path	to	Mars

May	29,	2014

Exploration and	pioneering	have inspired	and	shaped	civilizations	since	the	dawn	of	

human	history.	Such	endeavors	are one	distinguishing	characteristic	of	an	

advancing	civilization.	As	nations	explore,	they	discover,	innovate,	prosper,	lead—

and	become	great.	This	has	been	the	American	story	thus	far	and	NASA	figures	

prominently	in	it.	NASA	missions,	both	robotic	and	human,	expand	our	knowledge	of	

the	Earth,	our	solar	system	and	the	universe	beyond.	NASA’s	discoveries	and	

innovations	foster	an	imaginative	and	skilled	technical	workforce	and	grow	our	

economy.	NASA’s	missions	garner	national	prestige	and	our	collaborations	unite	

nations	of	the	world	around	a	common	goal.		

Over	the	past	four	years,	NASA	has	been	implementing	the	NASA	Authorization	Act	

of	2010,	enacted	with	broad	bipartisan	support	and	reflecting	agreement	between	

the	Congress	and	the	Administration	on	the	nation’s	next	steps	into	space.	The	Act	

calls	on	NASA	to	develop	and	evolve	the	Space	Launch	System	(SLS)	rocket	and	

Orion	crew	vehicle	and	to	expand	human	exploration	beyond	low	Earth	orbit	to	cislunar	space	destinations,	leading	eventually	to	the	international	exploration	of	Mars.

Why	Mars?	From	a	scientific	standpoint,	Mars	has	a	history,	geology	and	climate—as	

well	as	accessibility—that	make	it	an	ideal	location	on	which	to	study	the	most	

pressing	questions	of	solar	system	origins,	including	those	involving	the	search	for	

life	beyond	Earth.	From	a	human	exploration	and	pioneering	standpoint,	Mars	

contains	resources	that	could	sustain	human	presence.	These	include	water	ice	at	

the	poles	and	close	to	the	surface	over	much	of	the	planet.	Nitrogen,	trace	

concentrations	of	oxygen,	and	water	vapor	in	its	atmosphere	might	be	used	to	

produce	 breathable	air,	propellant	for	ascent	from	the	surface	and	nutrients	for	

plant	growth.	From	a	technology	standpoint,	Mars	poses	challenges	for	which	

solutions	will	find,	and	already	are	finding,	their	way	into	our	economy	and	society.		

Indeed,	the	pioneering	exploration	of	Mars	is	already	underway.	The	Mars	rovers	

Curiosity	and	Opportunity	are	moving	about	Mars	and	have	shown	it	exhibits	

conditions	that	could	have	supported	microbial	life	in	the	past.	Curiosity’s	sensors	

measured	the	radiation	environment	both	in	transit	to	Mars	and	on	the	surface.	The	

Mars	Reconnaissance	Orbiter	and	Mars	Odyssey	orbiter	are	examining	the	Martian	

surface	and	climate	in	great	detail,	and	their	imagery	may	one	day	identify	the	first	

human	landing	sites.	The	MAVEN	and	InSight	missions	will	study	Mars’	atmosphere	

and	interior,	respectively,	allowing	us	to	peer	into	Mars’	past	and	its	future.	

Explorers	go	with	the	intent	of	returning	to	tell	their story	and	point	the	way	for	

future	forays.	Pioneers	go	with	the	intent	to	establish	a	permanent	presence.	

Pioneering	space	requires	we	progress	from	Earth-dependent	to	Earth-independent.	

Today	and	for	the	last	13	years,	humans	have	continuously	lived	off	Earth	on	the	

International	Space	Station	(ISS).	While	dependent	on	Earth	for	resupply	and	short	
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transit	times,	ISS	is	allowing	us	to	learn	what	we	will	need	to	operate	at	greater	

distances	and	longer	durations. We	will	use	the	proving	ground	of	cis-lunar	space	to	

mature	technologies	on	missions	such	as	the	capture	and	redirection	of	an	asteroid	

so	astronauts	can	visit	it	and	return	samples.	Missions	in	this	proving	ground	will	

get	us	ready	for	much	more	Earth-independent	missions	to	Mars.

No	endeavor	of	exploration	and	pioneering	is	without	risk.	NASA’s approach	is	to	

build	on	our robotic	emissaries	and	precursors,	leverage	our space	shuttle	heritage	

and	ISS experience,	and	then	proceed in	a	step-wise	manner	by	first	using	cis-lunar	

space	as	a	proving	ground	for	human	Mars	exploration to	gain	experience	and	test	

capabilities	in	the	Earth-Moon	system. As	with	all	pioneering	efforts,	when	we	

expand	the	boundaries	of	human	exploration	we	also	introduce	an	added	measure	

of	risk	to	loss	of	human	life. The	benefits	associated	with	these	risks	must	be	easily	

recognizable.	This	will	not	deter	us	from	our	goal,	but	using	the	proving	ground	to	

identify	and	address	our	risks	will	inform	how	we	get	there and	when	we	will	be	

Mars	ready.

NASA	will	explore	and	pioneer	Mars	in	good	company.	Twelve	space	agencies	from	

nations	around	the	world	jointly	issued	in	August	2013	the	second	edition	of	a	

Global	Exploration	Roadmap,	(http://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/files/GER2013_Small.pdf )	“that	begins	with	ISS	and	expands	human	presence	into	the	solar	

system,	leading	to	human	missions	on	the	surface	of	Mars.”	This	international	

roadmap	provides	a	framework	for	coordination	among	the	agencies,	a	context	for	

partnership	on	specific	missions,	and	a	basis	from	which	the	agencies	can	discuss	

plans	and	investment	from	stakeholders	in	their	own	nations.	U.S.	commercial	firms	

also	are	expanding	their	capabilities	to	reach	and	operate	in	space.	As	they	have	

followed	us	into	Earth	orbit	and	seek	to	establish	a	market	there,	we	anticipate	they	

will	join	us	in	ever-deeper	forays	into	space.

Dialog	with	our	stakeholders	and	partners—the	public,	Congress,	academia,	

industry	and	international	partners—on	space	pioneering	and	exploration	priorities	

and	plans	is	critical	to	our	future.	We	continuously	seek	advice	and	counsel	as	we	

chart	our	path	into	the	solar	system. Shortly,	NASA	will	receive	a	report	from	the	

National	Research	Council	on	future	directions	for	human	spaceflight.	This	summer	

and	fall,	NASA	is	conducting	studies	on	approaches	to	a	sustained	campaign	of	

human	Mars	exploration.	We	will	articulate	a	synthesis of	these	efforts	in	an	update	

to	our	Voyages	document (http://go.nasa.gov/nasavoyages),	released	in	2012,

around	the	end	of	this	calendar	year.	The	present	interim	document	provides	a	

status	on	the	strategy	and	plans	to	date	to	implement	this	next	human	journey. It	is	

the	current	state	of	an	iterative	effort	that	will	continue	to	mature	as	capabilities	

develop,	partnerships	mature	and	evolve,	and	the	ties	to	national	and	global	

priorities	and	challenges	deepen.	

Mars	is	the	next	new	frontier	beckoning	great	nations.	Building	on	our	robotic	Mars	

Exploration	Program	and	today’s	investments	in	the	ISS,	the	Commercial	Crew	

Program,	SLS,	the	Orion	spacecraft,	and	future	technology	advances	from	our	Space	
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Technology	Mission	Directorate	programs,	America	is	well	poised	to	lead	the	next	

wave	of	missions	and	partnerships	to	pioneer	the	space	frontier. As	stated	in	our	

2014	Strategic	Plan,	NASA	aims	to	expand	human	presence	into	the	solar	system	and	

to	the	surface	of	Mars.

Getting	to	“Mars	Ready”

NASA’s	programmatic	approach	to	deep	space	and	Mars	exploration	and	pioneering	

includes the	principle	of	sustainability.	For	sustained	human	presence	in	deep	

space	and	on	Mars,	the	programs,	transportation,	habitability	systems,	and	

partnerships	must	be	sustainable	over	changes	in	political	and	budgetary priorities	

and	evolvable	over	technology	advances	and	scientific	discoveries	across	timespans	

of	decades.	

NASA’s	development	of	capabilities	for	sustainability	provides	a	modular	approach	

for mission	options	to	the	Mars	system—reusing	systems	when	and	where	possible,	

such	as	advanced	solar	electric	propulsion	and	deep	space	habitation, and	is	also	

open	to	international and	commercial participation	in	which partners	can	leverage	

and build	on	our	activities to	share	cost, increase	utilization	and provide	for	greater	

scientific	and	economic returns	to	society.

To	achieve	sustainability	in	all	these	dimensions,	NASA is	discussing	with its	

stakeholders	the	following	principles	to	guide	planning	and	implementation:

1. Implementable	in	the	near-term	with	the	buying	power	of	current	budgets

and	in	the	longer	term	with	budgets	commensurate	with	economic	growth;

2. Application	of	high	Technology	Readiness	Level	(TRL)	technologies	for	near	

term missions,	while	focusing	sustained	investments on	technologies	and	

capabilities	to	address	challenges	of	future	missions;

3. Near-term	mission	opportunities with	a	defined	cadence	of	compelling	

human	and	robotic	missions	providing	for	an	incremental	buildup	of	

capabilities	for	more	complex	missions	over	time;

4. Opportunities	for	US	commercial	business	to	further	enhance	the	

experience	and	business	base	learned	from	the	ISS	logistics	and	crew	market;

5. Multi-use,	evolvable	space	infrastructure;

6. Substantial international	and	commercial	participation,	leveraging	current	

International	Space	Station	partnerships.

Guided	by	these	principles even	as	they	mature,	NASA	is	defining a long-term,

flexible and sustainable	deep	space	exploration	architecture	termed	the	“Evolvable	

Mars	Campaign.”

Each	word	is	important.	While	“Mars”	is	the	goal,	the	Evolvable	Mars	Campaign	

recognizes	the	capabilities	of	space-faring	nations	today	are	not	sufficient	to	safely	

land	and	return	humans	from	the	surface	of	Mars,	as	we	know	we	have	gaps	in	our	

scientific,	engineering	and	technological	knowledge. As	a	result,	the	Evolvable	Mars	
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Campaign reflects	the	use	of	cis-lunar	space (the	lunar	vicinity) as	a	staging	area	to	

test	our	systems,	technologies	and	abilities	to	mount	future	Mars	missions.	Further,	

it	addresses	the	potential	exploration	and	use	of	Mars’	moons	Phobos	and	Deimos	as	

steps	toward	the	Martian surface.	

“Campaign”	signifies	the	fact	that	multiple	missions,	both	robotic	and	human,	will	be	

involved	in	the	exploration	and	pioneering	of	Mars.	This	is	not	a	point	design	for	a	

single	mission	to	reach	the	Martian	surface.	Rather	it	is a	methodical	approach	

toward	incrementally	building	technologies	and	testing	capabilities	to	go	beyond	

low	Earth	orbit	(LEO)	with	an	efficiency	of	purpose,	leading	to	a	sustained	campaign	

of	Mars	exploration	and	pioneering.	Our	Strategic	Knowledge	Gaps	document	

(http://www.nasa.gov/exploration/library/skg.html#.U4dIvsaiiMV )	formally	

identifies	what	we	don’t	yet	know	and	it	will	assist	requirements	selection	for	many	

future	robotic	precursors.	As	one	example,	we	need	to	advance	our	ability	to	

descend	to	and	ascend	from	Mars’ surface	through	the	planet’s	very	thin

atmosphere.	The	system	that	successfully landed	the	Curiosity	rover	is	capable	of	

landing	one	ton	on	the	surface;	human	missions	could	require	as	much	as	10	times	

that	amount using	descent	systems	that	are	not	directly	scalable	from	the	Curiosity	

mission.	

“Evolvable”	recognizes we	don’t	have	all	the	scientific	and	technical	answers	now,	

and will	not	know	all	the	answers	for	future	missions	when	we	conduct	the	first	

ones.	While	we expect	to	learn	much	as	we	explore,	a	number	of	technical	trade	

studies already	are	underway,	with	initial	results	available	later	this	summer and	

fall.	These	include	the	mix	of	cargo	and	crewed	missions,	the	orbital	trajectories	to	

be	employed	for	each,	the	relative	advantages	of	Earth-Mars	conjunction	

opportunities,	the	use	of	Martian	Lagrange	points	and	Martian	moons,	the	potential	

for	in-situ	resource	utilization	to	limit	logistical	dependence	on	cargo	missions	from	

Earth,	and	many	others.	While	scientific	understanding	of	our	solar	system	is	

growing	every	day,	we	recognize	future	discoveries	can	and	should	guide	the	first	

steps	in	the	Martian	vicinity. To ensure	science	considerations	are	included	in	

human	spaceflight	planning,	the	Solar	System	Exploration	Virtual	Institute	(SSERVI)	

provides	external	science	and	research	community	insight	and	guidance	into	both	

architecture	and	international	spaceflight	plans.	Further,	the	partnerships	that	

conduct	these	missions	are	bound	to	change	over	time,	or	political	priorities	may	

provide	new	direction,	science	may	reprioritize	our	precursor	planning	and	site	

selections,	and	technology	advances	may	offer	innovative	solutions	as	more	nations	

and	more	companies	become	spacefaring	partners	in	the	drive	toward	Mars.

In	short,	the	Evolvable	Mars	Campaign	provides	a	basis	for	architecture	

development	and	identification	and	analysis	of	trade	studies	with	our	partners	and	

stakeholders and	incorporates	the	flexibility	to	adjust	to	changing	priorities	across	

the	decades.	From	this	work	will	emerge	the	roadmap	we	will	follow	through	cislunar	space	to	pioneer	Mars.
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Advancing	From Earth	Reliance To	Earth Independence

Fundamentally,	extending	human	presence	into	the	solar	system	and	to	the	surface	

of	Mars	requires	advancing	from	an Earth-reliant	to	Earth-independent	state	of	

technology.	Currently,	we	are	Earth-reliant.	Today’s	astronauts	on	ISS	rely	on	

regular	logistics resupply	flights	from	Earth	and	on	being	able	to	return	from	Earth	

orbit	in	a	matter	of	hours.	Returning	to	Earth	from	Mars,	either	for	a	planned	return	

or	during	an	emergency,	could	be	one to	two	years—necessitating	full	selfsufficiency	for	safely	working,	living	and	ensuring	continued	safe	transportation

across	deep	space.	Once	landed,	these	future explorers and	pioneers	will	need	to	be	

Earth-independent,	living	off	resources	extant	in	their	immediate	environment. To	

progress	responsibly	from	Earth-reliant	to	Earth-independent,	we	need	to	first	

move beyond	low-Earth	orbit into	the	proving	ground	of	cis-lunar	space,	where	

return	times	are	days	to	weeks.	This	allows	us	to gain	experience	with	advanced	

exploration	systems,	long-duration	human	health	in	high radiation	environments

and	more	sophisticated	deep	space	operations. Only	after	we	have	successfully

demonstrated	these capabilities	are	we	able	to provide the necessary	independence	

that prepares us	for	the	longer	journeys across	the	solar	system.

The	International	Space	Station (ISS) is	the cornerstone	of space	exploration	and	

pioneering. The	ISS	is	our	in-space laboratory for	long-duration	crew	health	and	

performance,	habitability,	logistics,	and	explorations	systems	such	as	docking,	high	

reliability	closed	loop	life	support,	advanced	extravehicular	activity (EVA),	and	longterm	system	performance	in	a	microgravity	and	vacuum	environment. Extension	of	

ISS	operations	to	at	least	2024	is	enabling	NASA’s	Human	Research	Program	to	

identify	and	retire	or	reduce	the	risks	of	long-duration	spaceflight.	This	includes	

decreased	gravity	affecting	bone,	muscle,	cardiovascular and sensorimotor systems,	

nutrition,	behavior/performance,	immunology and	the	ability	to	provide	remote	

medical	care	via	telemedicine. For	example,	the	one-year	ISS	stay	by	astronaut	Scott	

Kelly	and	cosmonaut	Mikhail	Kornienko	in	2015	will	advance	human	microgravity	

knowledge	beyond	the	six-month	in-orbit	human	research	mark	that	is	the	limit	of	

most	of	today’s	data. While	we	have	countermeasures	to	limit	bone	and	muscle	loss	

during	six-month	durations,	we	can	investigate	if	these	countermeasures	are	equally	

effective	for	the	longer	durations	expected	in	Mars	missions.	The	Environmental	

Control	and	Life	Support	System	(ECLSS)—the system used to	keep	the	crew	alive	

with	fresh	air,	water	and	thermal	controls—is	critical for	Mars	missions	and	will	be	

tested	on	ISS.	Additionally,	the	Commercial	Cargo	and	Commercial	Crew	Programs	

foster	a	thriving	U.S.	commercial	space	industry	that	can	operate	in	low-Earth	orbit

(LEO) while	NASA	moves	outward.	Finally,	ISS	is	a	partnership	among	15	nations,	

with	some	68	nations	conducting	research,	and	serves	as	a	foundation	for	future	

partnerships	in	human	exploration and	pioneering	the	solar	system.

The	Space	Launch	System	(SLS)	and	Orion crew	vehicle	and	associated	

Exploration Ground	Systems	are	progressing	well	in	development of	our	initial	

exploration	capabilities.	The	Exploration	Flight	Test-1	(EFT-1)	of	the	Orion	capsule	

systems	and	heat	shield	is	scheduled	for	late 2014	on	a	Delta	IV	launch	vehicle.	All	
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the	major	contracts	for	these	systems	are	in	place.	Manufacturing	tooling	for	SLS	is	

being	installed	at	the	Michoud	Assembly	Facility,	and	the	launch	pad,	mobile	launch	

platform,	and	Vehicle	Assembly	Building	upgrades	are	underway	at	the	Kennedy	

Space	Center.	By	the	end	of	2016,	the	first	SLS	core	stage	will	arrive	at	the	Stennis	

Space	Center	for	hot-fire	testing.	The	Exploration	Mission-1	(EM-1)	first	test	launch	

of	SLS	with	Orion	utilizing	the	Exploration	Ground	Systems	infrastructure	is	planned	

for	fiscal	year	2018.	This	mission,	the	first	to	a	Distant	Retrograde	Orbit	(DRO)	

around	the	moon, will	leverage	this	cis-lunar	proving	ground	to	practice

sophisticated	DRO	trajectory	operations,	perform	system tests	in	a high	radiation	

environment, and	demonstrate	operation	of human	rated	vehicles	farther	from	

Earth	than	ever	before.	The	Exploration	Mission-2	(EM-2) in	2021-2022 will	be	the	

first	to	carry	humans	into	the	cis-lunar	proving	ground,	on a mission	duration	of	

about	25	days,	testing	and	demonstrating	our	ability	to	live	and	work	independent	

from	Earth. SLS	and	Orion,	in	their	evolved	forms, will	be	the	transportation	system	

that	carries	humans	and	supporting	cargo	to	the	Martian	system.	The	initial	SLS	

configuration	will	yield	a	70 metric	ton	(mT) to	LEO capability,	evolvable	to	105	mT	

and	130	mT	via	a	combination	of	upper	stage	and	advanced	booster	additions, to	

make	it	both	Mars-capable and	a	valuable	launch	vehicle	asset	with	the	potential to	

transport other	government	and	NASA	science	missions. The	capabilities	of	Orion	

will	evolve	and	be augmented	with	an	in-space	human	habitat	module for	long	

duration	stays	beyond	the	moon.

Sustained	investments	in	new technologies and	advance	capabilities are	

essential to	close	our	knowledge	gaps	and	safely	take	our	first	steps	beyond	low	

Earth	orbit	and	into	deep	space	and	to	Mars.	While	the	SLS	and	Orion	programs	are	

well	underway	to	providing	transportation	beyond	LEO,	there	are	several	additional	

(and	necessary)	technologies	in	various	stages	of	conceptualization,	development,	

and	testing	by	NASA’s	Space	Technology	Mission	Directorate	(STMD)	and	HEOMD’s	

Advanced	Exploration	Systems	(AES)	Division.	Both	these	organizations	mature	

lower	Technology	Readiness	Level	(TRL)	technologies	into	flight	proven,	reliable	

systems	for	eventual	use	by	Mars	pioneers. STMD	manages	a	portfolio	approach,	

ranging	from	early-stage	technology	concepts	addressing	long-term	exploration	

needs,	to	high	technology	readiness	level	spaceflight	demonstrations	required	for	

near	term	exploration	missions. STMD	focuses	on	crosscutting technologies	and	

capabilities	needed	to	achieve	future	robotic	and	human	exploration	missions.

STMD’s	Game	Changing	Program	matures	component	and	subsystem-level	

technologies,	while	AES	integrates	the	advanced	subsystems	technologies	

developed	by	STMD	to	create	prototype	flight	systems	for	use	by	HEOMD’s	current	

space	flight	systems	development	programs.	Focused	on	mission	fusion,	STMD	also	

executes	in-space	demonstrations	of	critically	needed	technologies	to	bridge	the	gap	

to	successful	utilization	of	crosscutting capabilities	spanning	customers	in	NASA	

Science,	Human	Exploration	and	the	broader	national	aerospace	community.	

Key	technology	areas	include:	
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• High-efficiency	in-space	transportation	systems	based	on	high	power	solar	

electric	propulsion	(SEP)	and	cryogenic	propellant	storage;

• Space	optical	communications	and	advanced	deep	space	navigation	for	

efficient	high	bandwidth	data	transmission	and	assured	spacecraft	position	

and	state	vectors;

• Advanced	highly	reliable	and	efficient	life	support	and	in	situ	resource	

utilization	to	ensure	that	deep	space	exploration	mission	can	safely	occur	

independent	of	earth;

• Mars	entry,	descent,	and	landing	technologies	and	systems	for	masses	an	

order	of	magnitude	greater	than	the	system	that	landed	the	Curiosity	rover;

• Space	robotic	systems	and	automation	such	as	humanoid	robots	and	

autonomous	rovers	to	offload astronaut	workloads	and	substantially	extend	

the	science	and	exploration	that	humans	will	perform	at	destinations;

• Lightweight	space	structures	and	advanced	manufacturing	with	a	focus	on	

large	composite	structures,	composite	launch	vehicle	structures	and	

lightweight	habitats;

• Advance	surface	power	generation	and	storage	systems	to	provide	the	

energy	needed	at	deep	space	destinations	to	sustain	life	and	perform	science	

and	exploration.

NASA	developed	(and	is	updating)	its	Space	Technology	Roadmaps	and	Space	

Technology	Investment	Plans	to	detail	the	specific	technologies	NASA	may	pursue	in	

each	area	and	focus	the	integrated	Agency	technology	efforts	toward	most	

efficiently	achieving	NASA’s	strategic	goals.

The	Path	to	Mars:	Into	the	Proving	Ground	of	Cis-lunar	Space

The	path	to	Mars	runs	through	cis-lunar	space and	we	can exploit	the	beneficial	

features	of	this	region	in	a	relatively	low-risk	environment.	We	also	can benefit	from	

international	and	commercial	partnerships	to	prepare	our	hardware	and	gain	

experience for	human	missions	beyond	and	on	to	Mars.	High	Earth	orbits,	the	DRO

around	the	Moon	to	which	EM-1	and	EM-2	will	fly,	and	the	Earth-Moon	Lagrange	

points	are	all	orbital	locations	in	which	deep	space	systems	can	be	tested	and	

operational	procedures	validated	while	still	close	enough	to	Earth	to	safely	recover	

systems	in	the	event	of	problems. Cis-lunar	space	is	ideal	for	the	advancement	of	

deep	space	systems	such	as	human	deep	space	habitation.

The	series	of	missions	NASA	is	planning in	the	proving ground of	cis-lunar	space	

follow	a	sustainable	approach	to	developing	the	capabilities	required	to	get	humans	

to	Mars. NASA	is	refining mission	objectives	of	the	Orion/SLS	EM-2,	and	EM-3 to	

incorporate	additional	operational	testing	relevant	to the	Asteroid	Redirect	Mission	

(ARM)	in	the	cis-lunar	environment. Systems	testing	and	demonstration	and	risk	

reduction	for	the	ARM crewed	mission	and	future	missions	to	Mars	moons,	Mars	

orbit	and	Mars	surface will	all	be	important	drivers	for	these	missions. Using	

current	candidate	asteroids,	a	mid-2019	launch	of	the	advanced	solar	electric	
8

propulsion	(SEP)-based	ARM	robotic	spacecraft	and	a	substantial	asteroid	mass	

returned	to a	stable	lunar	DRO would	allow	for	astronaut	exploration	and	sampling	

in	the	2024-25	timeframe	via SLS	and	Orion. NASA’s	plan	is	for	this	crewed	mission	

to	encompass	26-28	days,	including	five days	in	the	lunar	DRO for	Orion	rendezvous	

and	docking	with	the	ARM	robotic	spacecraft	and	attached	asteroid	mass	to	conduct

astronauts’	extravehicular	activities (EVAs) to	obtain	select	samples.

One	other	benefit	afforded	by	the	cis-lunar	environment is	the	‘low	energy’	transfer	

of	spacecraft	between	the	Mars	environment	and	our	moon—avoiding	the	need	for	

large	propulsion	systems	to	escape	or	descend	into	the	Earth’s	strong	gravity. While	

low	speed	and	best	for	non-perishable	items,	cargo	can	be	efficiently	transited	

among	Mars-lunar	locations,	allowing	for	optimization	of	human	missions	and	

durations and	possibly	increased	economy	with	the	re-use	of	key	systems	and	

spacecraft.	For	example,	with	an	existing	cis-lunar	spacecraft	and	docking	capability,	

samples	from	the	lunar	or	Martian surfaces	can	be	transported via	robotic	

spacecraft	to	a	DRO	around	the	moon	for	accessing,	study	and	retrieval	by	

astronauts	via	Orion	and	SLS.	Human	missions	to	Mars	will	be	preceded	by	cargo	

pre-emplaced	robotically;	transfer	vehicles	propelled	by	solar	electric	power	

systems	can	very	efficiently	shuttle	cargo well	in	advance	of	crew	arrival,	thus	

decoupling	crew	and	cargo	missions,	easing	orbital	mechanics	launch	constraints

and	opening	up	architectures	to	more	cost-efficient	solutions.

The	Asteroid	Redirect	Mission	(ARM) leverages	and	integrates	existing	programs	

in	NASA’s	Science,	Space	Technology	and	HEO Mission	Directorates to	provide	a	

moderately	low	marginal	cost	opportunity	to	exercise	our	emerging	deep	space	

exploration	capabilities	on	the	path	to	Mars. SMD’s	Near	Earth	Object	Observation	

program	will	identify	and	characterize	candidate	targets.	A	robotic	mission	using	

advanced	solar	electric	propulsion	will	encounter	and	redirect	the	selected	nearEarth	asteroid	(or	boulder	from	the	surface	of	a	larger	asteroid)	into	a	lunar	DRO,	

where	it	can	be	visited	by	a	crewed	Orion	mission that	will	return	samples	to	Earth	

for	detailed	analysis.	ARM	will	test	the	transport of	large	objects	using	advanced	SEP,	

automated	rendezvous	and	docking,	deep	space	navigation,	integrated	robotic	and	

crewed	vehicle	stack	operations	in	a deep	space	environment,	and	extra-vehicular	

activities	(EVAs)	outside of	Orion	that	will	be	needed	for	future	cis-lunar	space	and	

Mars	missions. NASA’s	strategy	is	that	the	ARM	SEP	module	and	spacecraft	bus	

would be	used for	the first	cargo	missions	to	Mars	and	its	moons.	We	might	do	so	by	

procuring	these	systems	commercially	to	lower	cost	and	for	reproducibility.	

Another	option	is	to repurpose	the	ARM	vehicle	after	its	first	mission,	as	a	lowest

cost	option to	transport	or	in	situ resource	utilization	(ISRU)	payload	to	Mars’	moon	

Phobos	and	back	to	lunar	DRO.	Coupled	with	a	new	entry,	descent	and	landing	

capability,	a	science	or	ISRU	payload	could	be	placed on	the	Martian	surface.	In	any	

case,	the	reuse	of	space	infrastructure	such	as	the	ARM	spacecraft	is	a	key	principal	

of	sustainable	space	exploration.	A	second	mission	for	the	ARM	spacecraft	could

provide	information	essential	to	selecting	the	path	to	Mars	and significantly	reduce

the	risks	facing	human	explorers—such	as	understanding	our	ability	to	leverage	
9

Phobos	resources,	and	characterizing the	surface	and	microgravity	environments.	

These	are	among	the	options	being	studied	this	year.

Mars-class	missions	will	require	crew	life	support	for	many	hundreds	of	days	at	a	

minimum; a	deep	space	habitation	capability (hab)	is	critical	for	mission	success.

It	is	essential	that	the	hab	design	receive	thorough	testing	in	a	relevant	deep	space	

microgravity	and	high	radiation	environment—well	before	a	final	design	and	

committing	a	crew	on a	Mars	mission.	The	first	deep	space	hab	could	be	provided	by	

a	commercial	or	international	partner,	and	could	provide	additional	resources	

including	power,	EVA	suits,	stowage,	science	instruments,	and	advanced	life	support	

testing	for	Mars	class	missions as	well	as	extend	the	in-space	time	of	crewed	Orion	

missions. The	hab	element	also	could	facilitate	additional	docking	ports	to	open	the	

cis-lunar	space	to	commercial	and	international	missions	in	concert	with	or	in	

addition	to	the	Orion	flights.	In	keeping	with	our	space	infrastructure	reuse	

principle,	a	deep	space	hab	also could	provide	a	dual	purpose,	in	addition	to	proving	

systems	for	Mars	missions,	by	potentially	serving as	a	staging	point	for	lunar	surface	

robotic	science	or	human	missions	sought	by	our	international	partners.	Based	on	

the	early	results	of orbital	mechanics	studies,	the	cis-lunar	proving	ground	is	a	

favorable	location to	test and develop	the	Mars	class	spacecraft	systems	prior	to	

sending	humans	to	pioneer Mars.

Our moon is	of	great	interest	to	countries	that	worked	with	NASA	to	develop	the	

Global	Exploration	Roadmap	(GER).	NASA	is	interested	in	operations	in	various	

lunar	orbits	for	the	reasons	cited	above,	and	in	samples	returned	from	the	South	

Pole	– Aiken	Basin	region.	Various	international	partners	are	interested	in	both	

robotic	and	human	missions to	the	lunar	surface,	and	NASA	will	likely	go	with	them

in	some	way.	U.S. commercial	entities	also	have	interest	in	robotic	lunar	missions

through	NASA’s	Lunar	CATALYST	program,	which aims	at	enabling	commercial	

provision	of	lunar	landing	services. NASA	exploring	the	possibility	of	utilizing	one	of	

these	commercial	landers	to	place	a	Regolith	and	Environment	Science	and	Oxygen	

and	Lunar	Volatile	Extraction	(RESOLVE) payload	onto	the	lunar	surface	later	this	

decade,	an	early	test	of	ISRU	with	lunar	regolith. Consistent	with	the	GER,	a	web	of	

international,	NASA and	commercial	partnerships	will	yield	both	robotic	and	

crewed	spacecraft	around	and	on	the	Moon.	Additionally,	many	of	our	international	

partners	want	to	send	humans	to	the	lunar	surface.	NASA	may	participate	at	some	

level,	as	the	lunar	surface	affords	some	benefit	in	partial	Earth-gravity	operations.

But	NASA’s	human	spaceflight	focus	is	on	advancing	technologies	and	operational	

experience	in	long-duration	missions	in	the	cis-lunar	proving	ground,	using	DRO	

missions,	on	the	path	that	leads to	Mars.

The	moons	of	Mars,	Phobos	and	Deimos—themselves	likely	captured	asteroids—

may	contain	material	accrued	from	the	Martian	surface	as	well	as	resources	useful	

for	expeditions	to	the	Martian	surface.	Orbital	locations	around	Mars, including	its	

two	moons, provide	potential	staging	areas	for	transit	habitats	and	cargo	assets	for	

human	expeditions	to	the	Martian	system. Cargo	shuttled	by	SEP-propelled	
10

spacecraft	between	orbits	around	Earth’s	moon	and	orbits	around	Mars	and	its	

moons	may	figure	prominently	in	the	human	pioneering	of	Mars.

Building	Toward	Earth-Independent	Exploration

NASA	and	its	partners	already	are	exploring	Mars’ surface,	with	humans	working	

through	our	robotic	spacecraft	to	prepare	the	way	for	future	human	pioneers.	

Current	Mars	exploration	is	showing	us	amazing	features	of	the	Red	Planet—it	once	

had	a	denser	atmosphere	and	liquid	water	on	its	surface—but	it	underwent	

dramatic	change	that	may	hold	lessons	for	understanding	our	own	changing	planet.	

Even	so,	today	Mars	has	nitrogen,	trace	oxygen	and	water	vapor in	its	atmosphere,

along	with	water	ice	at	its	poles	and	close its	surface	over	much	of	the	planet.	These	

valuable elements	can	be	harvested	to	provide	nutrients	for	plants,	fuel	for	

propulsion	systems	and	breathable air	for	future	human	pioneers.	Understanding	

the	viability	of	ISRU early	in	concept	planning	can	dramatically	alter	our	plans	for	

pioneering	the	Martian	surface.	Building	off	of	the	successful	radiation	monitor	

already	operating	on	the	Curiosity	rover,	the	next	Mars	rover	is	planned	for	launch	

in	2020. Just	as	these	rovers	help	us	answer	the	question	if life	ever	existed	on	Mars	

in	the	past,	we	want	to	know	how	to	successfully	put	human	life	on	Mars	in	the	

future.

Further,	the	Mars	2020	rover	will	cache	samples	for	possible	return	to	Earth	by	

future	missions.	Excited	by	the	long	and	continuing	history	of	learning	from	lunar	

samples	returned	by	the	Apollo	missions,	scientists	regard	the	return	of	samples	

from	Mars	as	one	of	the	top	priorities for planetary	science	and	a	potential	boon	for	

preparation	of	future	human	missions	to	Mars.	The	Mars	Reconnaissance	Orbiter	is	

scanning	the	climate	and	surface	of	Mars and	identifying	the	best	possible	landing	

sites	for	Mars	2020	and	future	missions.	

On	Mars,	humans and	machines will	explore	together.	Robotic	craft	are	first	into	

new	and	hazardous	environments, but	they	cannot	interact	with	their	environment	

with	the	speed,	intuitive	ease,	and	efficiency	of	a	human.	Designed	to	operate	on	the	

Martian	surface	for	three	months,	the	Opportunity	rover	has	survived	for	more	than	

ten years	and	explored more	than 22	miles	of	the	Martian	surface. When	the	Apollo	

17	crew	landed on	the	Moon	in	1972,	they equaled	that	distance	in	just	three	days	

on	the	lunar	surface.	Putting	human	geologists	and	astrobiologists	on	Mars	will	

accelerate	the	pace	of	discovery	and	thus	the	safety	and	productivity	of	the	pioneers	

to	follow.

Achieving Earth-independent	exploration	and	pioneering	capability	is	a	substantial	

undertaking.	We	have	identified	key	areas	under	the	broad	categories	of	space	

transportation,	staying	healthy	in	space,	and	working	in	space	and	planetary	

environments	in	order	to	guide	our	technology	and	future	mission	planning.
11

The	Next	Steps:	Mission	Plans	for	the	Coming	Decade

NASA’s	next	steps	are	steps	toward	extending	human	presence	into	the	solar	system	

and	to	the	surface	of	Mars.	

ISS:	The	United	States has	announced	plans	to	extend	ISS	operations	and	utilization	

to	at	least	2024,	and	we	anticipate	codification via	Congressional	authorization.	In	

2015,	the	ISS	partners	will	conduct	a	one-year	mission	with	an	astronaut	and	a	

cosmonaut to	accelerate	our	understanding	of	needs	and	means	to	enable	longduration	space	flight.	

Commercial	Crew	Transportation	Capability: NASA	and	its	commercial	partners	

are	working	toward	the	first	commercially	provided transportation	of	crews	to	and	

from	the	ISS	by	the	end	of	2017.	Later	this	year,	NASA	will	select	from	among	the	

proposing	partners	that shall	proceed	into	the	development	and	certification	phase.

Exploration	Flight	Test-1	(EFT-1): In	December	2014,	the	first	Orion	vehicle	will	

launch	aboard	a	Delta	IV	rocket	with	the	aim	of	returning	back	through	the	Earth’s	

atmosphere	at	the	velocities	that	will	be	experienced	by	deep	space	crewed	

missions.	This	will	be	a	test	of	the	Orion	heat	shield	and	other	critical systems,	

leading	to	the	final	design	of	the	first	crewed	Orion	vehicle.

EDL	Capability: Aerodynamic	decelerators	are	identified	as	key	technologies

needed	to	enable	many	future	planetary	exploration	missions	for	NASA,	which	

cannot	be	accomplished	today.	Included	in	those	missions	are	scientific	missions	

focused	on	exploring	the	Southern	Highlands	of	Mars	and	eventually	delivering	the	

large	mass	payloads	required	for	human	exploration	to	the	surface	of	Mars. STMD	

investments	are	exploring	multiple	classes	of	aerodynamic	decelerators	such	as	

hypersonic	inflatables,	supersonic	inflatables,	mechanically	deployables	and	

supersonic	parachutes. The	key	technology	advancements	needed	to	realize	the	

benefits	of	inflatable	decelerators	are	being	established	within	the	Low	Density	

Supersonic	Decelerator	(LDSD)	project	and	the	Hypersonic	Inflatable	Atmospheric	

Decelerators	(HIAD)	project.	The	LDSD	project	is	currently	demonstrating	both	

inflatable	decelerator	and	advanced	parachutes	at	supersonic	speeds	from	a	solid	

rocket	propelled	vehicle	dropped from	a	high-altitude	balloon,	with	a	first	test	

planned	for	June 2014 of	the	world’s	largest	supersonic	parachute.	The	HIAD	Project	

is	orchestrating	a	series	of	ground	and	flight	tests	in	the	next	few	years	to	

demonstrate	the viability	of	thermal	resilient	materials	manufactured	in	robust	

configurations	to	withstand	the	extreme	structural	and	thermal	environments	

experienced	during	atmospheric	entry. STMD	also	is	investigating	mechanically	

deployable	hypersonic	aerodynamic	decelerators	and the	use	of	supersonic	retro	

propulsion	technology	as	an	alternative	aerodynamic	deceleration.	It	also	is	

engaging	with	SpaceX	to	utilize	the company’s first	stage	return	engine	data	to	help	

understand	supersonic	thruster	atmospheric	interaction.
12

2014	Discovery	Announcement:	Working	with	STMD	and	HEOMD,	SMD’s	

Planetary	Science	Division (PSD) held	a	Technology	Day	for	Discovery	mission	

proposers	to	showcase	technologies	under	development	that	could	support	

Discovery	proposals	in	response	to	this	year’s	Announcement	of	Opportunities	(AO).

HEO	and	STMD	presented	several	technologies	that	have	been	under	development	

to	support	human	exploration	activities that	could	have	direct	applicability	to	a	

Discovery	mission. PSD	hopes	that	in	working	together	to	share	technologies	across	

our	robotic	and	human	missions,	we	can	expand	the	user	base	and	experience	for	

these	new	technologies. Specific	technologies	have	been	identified	in	the	Discovery	

AO	for	incentives	to	the	proposal	team	including	NEXT	solar	electric	propulsion	

system,	a	new	heat	shield	technology	(HEEET),	optical	communications	and	atomic	

clock. All	of	these	can	be	applicable	to	future	human	mission. In	addition,	we	

introduced	Advance	Landing	and	Hazard	Avoidance	Technology,	Advanced	Solar	

Arrays,	and	Green	propulsion	technologies	to	the	Discovery	proposers	as	advanced	

technologies	that	were	ready	for	proposals.

Exploration	Mission-1	(EM-1): In	Fiscal	Year	2018,	NASA	will	conduct	the	first	

integrated	flight	test	of	Orion	and	SLS.	The	rocket	will	launch	Orion	into	a	distant	

retrograde	orbit	around	the	Moon—the	orbit	that	figures	so	prominently	in	our	

future	human	Mars	exploration	plans. EM-1	and	subsequent	missions	will	include	

the	deployment	of	secondary	payloads	to	accomplish	a	variety	of	exploration,	

technology	and	science test	objectives. EM-1	also	will	use	a	Service	Module	provided	

by	the	European	Space	Agency,	leading	off	the	international	human	deep	space	

exploration	partnership.

Asteroid	Redirect	Mission: In	about	2019,	NASA	will	launch	a	robotic	mission	to	

rendezvous	with	a	near	Earth	asteroid	and	redirect	it	(or	a	boulder	extracted	from	a	

larger	asteroid)	into	a	stable	orbit	around	the	moon	to	exercise	systems	and	

operational	techniques	critical	to	future	missions to	Mars	and	its	moons. The	choice	

of	mission	option	will	be	made	by	the	end	of	this	year in	preparation	for	Mission	

Confirmation	Review	in	early	calendar	year	2015.	Candidate	target	identification	

and	characterization	is	underway through	NASA’s	Near	Earth	Object	Observation	

Program,	with	at	least	one	viable target	already	identified	for	each	mission	option.

ARM	will	fully	demonstrate	a	50 kilowatt	(kW)-class	high	power	SEP	tug	that	could	

later	extend	to	provide	a	highly	efficient	cargo	and	logistics	transportation	system	

for	a Mars	campaign

Mars	2020: In	2020,	NASA	will	launch	a	new	rover	to	Mars	that	will	seek	signs	of	

past	life	on	the	Martian	surface.	The	Mars	2020	heat	shield	will	be	instrumented	to	

provide	additional	data	on	the	performance	of	the	shield	during	descent	through	the	

Martian atmosphere, thus	informing	design	of	entry,	descent	and	landing	systems	

for	future	human	missions.	The	Mars	2020	rover	also	will	carry	science	and	

exploration	technology	investigations	that	advance	the	state	of knowledge	needed	

to	prepare	for	future	human	and	robotic	pioneers	on	Mars.
13

Exploration	Mission-2	(EM-2): In	2021-22,	NASA	will	launch	the	first crewed	

mission	of	Orion	and	SLS.	This	will	be	the	first	mission	to	demonstrate	crewed	flight	

beyond	low	Earth	orbit; carrying	a	crew	of	up	to	four	farther	into	space	than	

humans	have	ever	traveled.	

Exploration	Upper	Stage: NASA	is	working	toward	development	of	a	new	upper	

stage	in	time	for	EM-3,	and	sooner	if	possible,	which	would	advance	SLS	to	a	greater	

than	105mT	capability.

Asteroid	Redirect	Crewed	Mission: NASA	plans	to	conduct	the	Asteroid	Redirect	

Crewed	Mission	(ARCM),	once	the	asteroid	is	in	a	stable	orbit	around	the	moon.	The	

timing	of	this	mission	depends	on	the	orbital	attributes	of	the	asteroid	chosen.

ACRM	will	demonstrate	EVA out	of	Orion and	other	critical	operations	needed	for	

future	deep	space	exploration.

Exploration	Augmentation Module	Partnership: NASA	is	investigating concepts	

for	deep	space	habitation	module	systems	development.	The	deep	space	habitation	

module	itself	is	likely	to	be	provided	by	a	commercial	or	international	partner—or	

some	hybrid	of	these.

Beyond	the	early	Exploration	Missions	above,	NASA	plans	to	achieve	a	regular,	more	

frequent	cadence	of	missions,	to	include	both	crewed	missions	with	Orion	and	

uncrewed	missions	of	SLS	carrying	exploration	cargo	or	future	science	missions	to	

deep	space.	Thus	current	SLS	development	efforts	provide	pathways	for	evolution	in	

lift	capability	and	focus	on	affordability	of	production	and	launch	operations.

Summary

We	already	have	taken	the	first	steps	on	the	path	to	Mars and	our future	course	is	

being charted	in	accordance	with	continuing	stakeholder	dialog,	founded	on the	

principles, architecture	studies and	capabilities	in	development for	the	Evolvable

Mars	Campaign.	Many	of	the	building	blocks,	such	as	SLS,	Orion,	ARM	and	various	

technologies	already	are	in	development	or	formulation.	The	studies	under	the	

rubric	of	the	Evolvable	Mars	Campaign will	continue through this	summer	and	we	

will engage	our	stakeholders	throughout	the	process	to	further	refine	our	roadmap

to	Mars. We	plan	to	issue a	revision	to the	Voyages	document—with	a	more	detailed	

roadmap to	Mars—by	the	end	of	this	calendar	year,	after	more	rounds	of	discussion	

with	our	partners	and	stakeholders. We	also	are	laying	the	foundation	for	

partnerships	with	both	other	nations	and	the	US	commercial	sector.	This	will	be	an	

evolving	roadmap;	we	will	fill	in	more	detail—and	some	major	pieces—in	the	

months	and	years	to	come	as	options	and	partnerships	materialize	and	mature.	We	

will	shape	and	proceed	along	the	path	to	Mars	at	the	pace	fiscal	and	technological	

conditions	allow,	as	explorers	and	pioneers	always	have.	And	like	those	who	have	

gone	before,	we	have	our	eyes	on	the	frontier,	and	on	a	better	future	for	the	nation	

and	for	humankind.