The US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has developed and presented a new plan to conquer outer space for the coming decades. In addition to some of the key missions associated with work in low-earth orbit, the agency plans to carry out the first manned space missions outside of near-earth space in more than 40 years - first returning a person to the moon, and then sending him to Mars.
The agency developed a new plan in accordance with the requirements put forward by the current administration of US President Donald Trump - to return the country's leadership in the space sector. According to the 21-page document published by the agency, NASA sets itself five key tasks, the solution of which will not only return the country's leadership in space, but also prepare the basis for more ambitious tasks in deep space exploration. Among them: active support for the private space sector and more active international cooperation, preparation for the further development of near-Earth and cislunar space, support for scientific discoveries, as well as characterization of lunar resources during a series of robotic missions to our planet's satellite,the return of American astronauts to the lunar surface with the prospect of a permanent presence on it, as well as the development and implementation of manned flights to Mars and other directions.
NASA's plan to send a man to the Moon and Mars is designed for 20 years, but the first landing is planned for 10 years. At the same time, the experts in the published document took into account all force majeure situations and a possible change in terms in case of problems at one stage or another of the implementation of the general strategy.
Working in low-earth orbit
In operations in low-earth orbit, NASA is going to move away from the current model of space exploration, in which the US government (which is essentially the main customer of space launches) is actively involved, and turn towards private commercial enterprises. In short, NASA is going to move away from direct government and funding and towards commercial partnerships and services, as well as more active international cooperation. The agency wants to apply a similar approach to the International Space Station after 2025. Recall that support for the station will continue until at least 2024. All this time, NASA plans to use the station as a platform for testing new technologies in robotics, communications, medicine, agriculture and other areas,which will definitely be required for the implementation of the further part of the deep space exploration program.
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At the same time, the ISS will have to play a key role for the agency in the transition of NASA to a more commercial focus of the services provided in near-earth orbit. In particular, we are talking about launching new private compact satellites (cubsats) from the station, using it as a research platform in non-governmental missions, and also, possibly, for partially rebuilding the American segment for a space tourist hotel.
Return to the Moon
An important role in the implementation of this part of the plan will be assigned to the new Space Launch System (SLS) launch vehicle and the Orion multipurpose spacecraft. The first test launch of the Orion spacecraft (Exploration Mission-1) in unmanned mode is scheduled for 2020. During this mission, the device is planned to be sent around the Moon and returned back to Earth.
The next is an Exploration Mission-2, slated for 2023. As part of it, the agency will send a team of astronauts around the moon. The first landing on the lunar surface with the successful completion of the Exploration Mission-2 will take place no earlier than the end of the 2020s.
Artistic representation of the housing module of the lunar orbital station Gateway.
Another important step in the exploration of the Moon will be the construction of a circumlunar orbital station Gateway, which will allow the United States to consolidate its permanent presence in circumlunar space. The station is planned to be used as a scientific laboratory for studying the Moon, as well as the effects of microgravity and radiation on living organisms. The results of this work will form the basis for preparations for further exploration of deep space, in particular Mars. The station itself, in turn, in the future will become a staging post for flights to Mars and other bodies of the solar system. The first element of the station is planned to be laid in 2022.
Travel to Mars
The first manned mission to Mars will not happen until the 2030s. The main work on preparing for a flight to Mars is planned to begin after receiving the results of the Mars 2020 mission, during which a new Mars rover will be sent to the Red Planet. The new device will not only look for life on our planetary neighbor, but also explore the possibilities of using local resources by future colonists in the construction of a permanent habitat. An important aspect in the preparation of manned flights to Mars will be the development of robotic missions to the Red Planet, which will expand the scientific and technical knowledge that will be obtained during the implementation of missions to master the Moon.
Artistic representation of the orbiting Mars Base Camp.
According to the document submitted by NASA, an important part of the plan for the development of Mars will be the creation of an orbital infrastructure, using which new missions in the planet's orbit will be carried out, as well as landings on the surface of Mars. The agency commissioned Lockheed Martin to develop a concept document for the Mars Base Camp, which will be used in a similar way to the Gateway lunar station. It is planned to place its own landing rover on board the station, with the help of missions on the Red Planet.
Nikolay Khizhnyak
