The National Space Exploration Campaign Update

for the

National Space Council Users' Advisory Group

November 15, 2018
Space Policy Directive-1

“Lead an innovative and sustainable program of 

exploration with commercial and international 

partners to enable human expansion across the solar 

system and to bring back to Earth new knowledge and 

opportunities.

Beginning with missions beyond low-Earth orbit, the 

United States will lead the return of humans to the 

Moon for long-term exploration and utilization, 

followed by human missions to Mars and other 

destinations.” 

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Last Year: Three Implementation Approaches Studied

COMMON ELEMENTS

Greater use of ISS and commercial LEO in near-term. Americans around the Moon to follow in 

2022, first beyond LEO since 1972. Commercial robotic lunar cargo and early emplacement of 

small payloads by 2020. Initial Cislunar presence for U.S. leadership by 2022.

APPROACH #1:

Moon to Stay

APPROACH #2:

Moon-Mars in Parallel

APPROACH #3:

Cislunar Campaign

Focus on the lunar surface Focus on firsts to/from Mars Focus on cislunar infrastructure and 

exploration, with Mars as the horizon goal

Permutations exist for each approach, based on Acquisition, Partnering, and Programmatics
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National Exploration Campaign – Five Strategic Goals

1) Transition U.S. human spaceflight in LEO to commercial operations 

that support NASA and the needs of an emerging commercial 

economy. 

2) Lead the emplacement of capabilities that support lunar surface 

operations and facilitate missions beyond cislunar space. 

3) Foster scientific discovery and characterization of lunar resources 

through a series of robotic missions. 

4) Return U.S. astronauts to the surface of the Moon for a sustained 

campaign of exploration and utilization. 

5) Demonstrate on the Moon the capabilities required for human 

missions to Mars and other destinations. 
Low Earth Orbit & the International Space Station

• Over 30 Commercial payload

facilities have launched and

operated on the ISS through

the National Lab

• Participation from 40 different

commercial companies across

the globe

• 2 Unique Crew Vehicle designs

flying to ISS 2019

International 

Participation from 

103 Nations Across 

the World
For NASA Internal Use Only

Cis-lunar Space: A Deep Space Harbor for Expanded Human Presence

NRHO

Only ~3 to 5 days away 

from Earth yet farther 

than Apollo went

Ideal mission aggregation 

location

The next “high ground” 

beyond GEO

Access to local resources 

including volatiles, 

gravity and sunlight

Accessible by NASA, 

commercial, and 

international launch 

systems

True deep space radiation 

environment

Benign orbital debris 

environment

Minimal station keeping 

requirements

Some stable orbits

Orbital phasing and 

transfer for minimal energy

Infrequent/avoidable 

eclipse periods

Thermal environment 

compatible with cryogenic 

oxygen and methane
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GATEWAY A homeport for human and robotic

Exploration of the Moon and beyond 

HUMAN ACCESS TO & FROM LUNAR SURFACE 

Astronaut support and teleoperations of surface assets. 

U.S. AND INTERNATIONAL 

CARGO RESUPPLY 

Expanding the space economy 

with supplies delivered aboard 

partner ships that also provide 

interim spacecraft volume for 

additional utilization. 

INTERNATIONAL CREW 

International crew expeditions for up 

to 30 days as early as 2024. Longer 

expeditions as new elements are 

delivered to the Gateway. 

SAMPLE RETURN 

Pristine samples robotically delivered to 

the Gateway for safe processing and 

return to Earth. 

SCIENCE AND TECH DEMOS 

Support payloads inside, affixed outside, freeflying nearby, or on the lunar surface. 

Experiments and investigations continue operating 

autonomously when crew is not present. 

COMMUNICATIONS RELAY 

Data transfer for surface and orbital robotic missions 

and high-rate communications to and from Earth. 

SIX DAYS 

TO ORBIT THE MOON 

The orbit keeps the crew in 

constant communication 

with Earth and out of the 

Moon's shadow. 

A HUB FOR FARTHER 

DESTINATIONS 

From this orbit, 

vehicles can embark 

to multiple 

destinations: The 

Moon, Mars and 

beyond .

GATEWAY SPECS 

50 kW 

Solar Electric 

Propulsion 

4 Crew 

Members 

30-90 Day 

Cr ew 

Missions 

125 m

3

Pressurized 

Volume 

Upto75mt 

with Orion 

docked 

ACCESS 

384,000 km from Earth 

Accessible via NASA's SLS as well as 

international and commercial ships . 20180905 
50 Years of Lunar Knowledge
Three Stage Lunar Architecture

Available launch vehicles and 

physics are what has driven 

the three stage lunar 

architecture:

Ascent Element: Based at 

Gateway and reusable and 

refuelable. Carries a crew of 4.

Descent Element: Performs 

descent propulsion and serves 

as a cargo lander.

Transfer Vehicle: Transfers 

ascent and descent elements 

(if applicable) from Gateway 

orbit to lower orbit for landing. 

Potential for reusability and 

could be provided as a 

commercial service

Other Benefits

Phased Development

– Spreads out costs evenly, while getting a capability for landing science and exploration 

payloads on the moon in support of future crewed missions.

– Human rating requirements are minimal on the upfront developments, as the ascent element 

with its full abort capability at any crewed mission phase addresses many of the human 

rating requirements.

Partnering Opportunities

– Smaller elements, enable easier point of entry for both commercial and international 

partners; both now and in the future so long as interoperability standards are established.

– Industry partners can move ahead faster with the capabilities they want to build, while NASA 

builds and sustains its unique competencies with respect to deep space human systems on 

the ascent element. 

Multi-use Systems

– Elements (or copies of them) can be applied to other missions to greatly increase their 

payload or reduce transportation time (deep space rendezvous with tug for outer planet 

missions, satellite maneuvering in GEO vicinity, etc)

– Alternate crewed cis-lunar missions like a NEO rendezvous, a tour of L4/L5 to see what 

small objects may have settled there, or missions to L1 or L2 for deploy or servicing of 

remote sensing systems are possible. 

– The lunar elements may be partially or fully applicable to aspects of future Mars missions 

(common ascent systems, etc).
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Path to the Lunar Surface (Planning/Notional)
Three Stage Lunar Architecture (Planning/Notional)

Available launch vehicles and 

physics are what has driven 

the three stage lunar 

architecture:

Ascent Element: Based at 

Gateway and reusable and 

refuelable. Carries a crew of 4.

Descent Element: Performs 

descent propulsion and serves 

as a cargo lander.

Transfer Vehicle: Transfers 

ascent and descent elements 

(if applicable) from Gateway 

orbit to lower orbit forlanding. 

Potential for reusability and 

could be provided as a 

commercial service

Other Benefits

Phased Development

– Spreads out costs evenly, while getting a capability for landing science andexploration 

payloads on the moon in support of future crewedmissions.

– Human rating requirements are minimal on the upfront developments, as the ascentelement 

with its full abort capability at any crewed mission phase addresses many of the human 

rating requirements.

Partnering Opportunities

– Smaller elements, enable easier point of entry for both commercial and international 

partners; both now and in the future so long as interoperability standards are established.

– Industry partners can move ahead faster with the capabilities they want to build, whileNASA 

builds and sustains its unique competencies with respect to deep space human systems on 

the ascent element.

Multi-use Systems

– Elements (or copies of them) can be applied to other missions to greatly increase their 

payload or reduce transportation time (deep space rendezvous with tug for outerplanet 

missions, satellite maneuvering in GEO vicinity, etc)

– Alternate crewed cis-lunar missions like a NEO rendezvous, a tour of L4/L5 to see what 

small objects may have settled there, or missions to L1 or L2 for deploy or servicing of 

remote sensing systems are possible.

– The lunar elements may be partially or fully applicable to aspects of future Mars missions

(common ascent systems, etc).
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NASA Buying Power
National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Enabling Human Expansion Across the Solar System

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