www.nasa.gov

May 22, 2023

M2M Architecture Industry Webinar

NASA Headquarters, Washington D.C.

NASA’s Moon to Mars 

Architecture:

Avenues for Engagement

Jim Free

Associate Administrator

Exploration Systems Development

Mission Directorate

Catherine Koerner

Deputy Associate Administrator

Exploration Systems Development

Mission Directorate

Director, Strategy and Architecture 

Office

Nujoud Merancy

Architecture Lead

Exploration Systems Development

Mission Directorate
“...Human and robotic space exploration missions will 

land the first woman and person of color on the 

Moon, advance a robust cislunar ecosystem, 

continue to leverage human presence in low-Earth 

orbit to enable people to live and work safely in 

space, and prepare for future missions to Mars and 

beyond.”

Deep Space Exploration Priorities

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— The White House U.S Space Priorities Framework, Dec 2021

Space Policy Directive-1

December 2017

Space Priorities Framework

December 2021

National Space Council

March 2019

NASA Authorization Act

July 2022

NASA Strategic Plan

March 2022

President’s Budget Request

March 2023
Investigations in deep 

space, on the Moon, and 

on Mars will enhance our 

understanding of the 

solar system, Earth, the 

human body, and how to 

perform new operations 

while we are out there 

exploring.

Benefits to

Humanity

What we choose to do, 

how we do those things, 

and who we do them with 

greatly impacts our place 

in the world today, our 

quality of life, and our 

possibilities for the future.

Accepting audacious 

challenges and succeeding 

through perseverance and 

tenacity in the face of 

adversity motivates current 

and future generations to 

dare mighty things.

Why We Explore 

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NASA’s Moon to Mars Strategy and Objectives

A blueprint for future human exploration (Architecting from the Right)

Requested feedback on these objectives in summer 2022 from the following key stakeholders: 

NASA workforce: 

our greatest asset

International partners: our key 

current and future, anticipated 

collaborators

U.S. industry, academia, DOE, NIH, 

NSF, etc.: our national leaders in 

space research and capabilities

TRANSPORTATION 

AND HABITATION

LUNAR AND MARS 

INFRASTRUCTURE OPERATIONS

SCIENCE

ARCHITECTURE

Iterate and evolve 

through annual 

Architecture Concept 

Reviews

Goals and Objectives

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go.nasa.gov/3zzSNhp
Architecting 

from the 

Right

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Moon to Mars Objectives
Architecting from the Right 

The Architecture process requires a decomposition of Moon to Mars Objectives to 

element functions and mission use cases to complete the process of “architecting from the right.” 

This establishes the relationship of executing programs and projects to the driving goals and objectives. 

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Example 

Objective 

Decomposition

Example of the full distillation of the

objectives into lunar-specific Use Cases,

Functions, and Elements for the Human

Lunar Return segment using one of 12

Transportation and Habitation Objectives.

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Architecture Framework 

A group of tightly-coupled systems, 

functions, and capabilities that 

perform together to accomplish 

architecture objectives.

Ex: Transportation Systems: Contain 

common functions (e.g. RPOD) & need to 

ensure end-to-end allocation for crew 

transport from Earth to destinations to safe 

return

Sub-Architectures

Segments

A portion of the architecture, identified by one or more notional missions or integrated use 

cases, illustrating the interaction, relationships, and connections of the sub-architectures 

through progressively increasing operational complexity and objective satisfaction.

Ex: Human Lunar Return integrated use case similar to current Artemis IV operations

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Architecture Iteration Process

1. Objectives decomposition 

to Use Cases & Functions

2. Element allocations and 

traceability performed to 

initial Segment (HLR)

3. Program requirements & 

ConOps implement 

allocated architecture 

needs

4. Unallocated functions 

(gaps) re-enter SAC 

process

5. SAC trades and analysis 

identify element solutions 

or definition of new 

program/projects

6. Definition of next segment 

and included elements 

begins

7. Repeat

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xEVA

H3

M3

HLR

x1-

Transportation

...y

Habitation

...x

FE SLE

y2

T4

x1

H2M

GW

Mobility

O H SLS

LTV

GW+ H2

y1 y3

x2

Unallocated SAC

...

HLR Func. ...

HLR Use Case

Objectives & Goals

Characteristics & Needs

Functions

Use Cases

1 2

3

4

5

6

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Segments and Sub-architectures

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Human Lunar Return Foundational Exploration Sustained Lunar Evolution Humans to Mars

Initial capabilities, systems, and 

operations necessary to re-establish 

human presence and initial utilization 

(science, etc.) on and around the 

Moon. 

Expansion of lunar capabilities, 

systems, and operations supporting 

complex orbital and surface missions 

to conduct utilization (science, etc.) 

and Mars forward precursor 

missions. 

Enabling capabilities, systems, and 

operations to support regional and 

global utilization (science, etc.), 

economic opportunity, and a steady 

cadence of human presence on and 

around the Moon. 

Initial capabilities, systems, and 

operations necessary to establish 

human presence and initial utilization 

(science, etc.) on Mars and 

continued exploration. 

Segment: A portion of the architecture, identified by one or more notional missions or integrated use cases, illustrating the 

interaction, relationships, and connections of the sub-architectures through progressively increasing operational complexity 

and objective satisfaction.

Sub-architecture: A group of tightly-coupled 

systems, functions, and capabilities that perform 

together to accomplish architecture objectives.

Communication, Positioning, Navigation, and Timing • 

Habitation • Human Systems • Logistics • Mobility Systems 

• Power • Transportation • Utilization Systems

Focus for ACR 22 Focus for ACR 23
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EXPLORATION GROUND 

SYSTEMS

ORION SPACECRAFT SPACE LAUNCH SYSTEM GATEWAY

DEEP SPACE LOGISTICS COMM, POSITIONING, 

NAV, TIMING (CPNT)

COMMERCIAL LUNAR 

PAYLOAD SERVICES

xEVA Systems HUMAN LANDING SYSTEM

Human Lunar Return Segment
Moon to Mars Exploration Strategy

Scientific exploration and operations at the Moon will help prepare for the first human missions to Mars

GATEWAY TRANSIT HABITAT

AND MARS TRANSIT

PRESSURIZED 

ROVER

HUMAN LANDING 

SYSTEM 

Mobile Expedition Duration

Mobile Exploration Range

Fission Surface Power

Long Durations in Zero Gravity

Crew Size

Autonomous Robotics Systems 

& Contingency Crew 

Transportation 

LUNAR

TERRAIN

VEHICLE 

In-Situ Resource Utilization

SURFACE

HABITAT

Partial Gravity Operations
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Architecture Concept Review Products

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www.nasa.gov/MoonToMarsArchitecture

Architecture Definition Document

Detailed documentation of a snapshot of 

NASA’s human spaceflight architecture and 

exploration strategy

Moon to Mars Architecture Summary

High-level overview of NASA’s Moon to Mars 

architecture and exploration strategy

White Papers

Six papers on architecture study details 

for frequently discussed topics
Engagement and Feedback

• The Moon-to-Mars architecture will be continually refined based on the 

development of our current programs, inputs from U.S. commercial and academic 

space communities, international partners, other stakeholders, and ongoing work 

to increase detail on the architecture products. 

• A NASA-led in-person workshop is planned for June 27th – 28th. It will be geared 

toward soliciting feedback via small group discussions from U.S. commercial and 

academia on the Moon-to-Mars architecture processes and documentation. The 

location of the workshop will be in the greater D.C. area. 

• Stakeholders can also provide feedback through 

nasa.gov/MoontoMarsArchitecture and during existing interactions, including 

conference meetings and partner discussions.
Questions and Answers

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National Aeronautics and Space Administration

www.nasa.gov

www.nasa.gov/MoonToMarsArchitecture