Our Progress and Plans on the
Journey to Mars
selection for Mars 2020 is not finalized; however, one consideration is the site’s
potential suitability for future human surface missions. If Mars 2020 lands at
a potential human landing site, it may help characterize the region for available
resources, significantly increasing our ability to prepare future pioneers for the
journey to Mars.
Robotic science pathfinder missions will continue well into the next decade to
meet high-priority science objectives and prepare for future human missions
to Mars. Robotic missions after Mars 2020 are in their conceptual stages and
will address key exploration questions, such as characterizing the complex
gravitational environment of the Martian moons; identifying resources and
areas of scientific interest; understanding the effects of space radiation;
validating EDL techniques; and studying regolith mechanics and dust.
An Evolving Architecture: Driving Near-Term Decisions
and Long-Term Robustness
Like previous pioneers, NASA is charting new territory and we will
adapt to new scientific discoveries and new opportunities. For example,
science discoveries in just the past few years have completely changed our
understanding of water on the moon and the habitability of Mars, enabling
new architectures that rely on ISRU to reduce logistical burden. Our current
efforts are focused on pieces of the architecture that we know are needed. In
parallel, we continue to refine an evolving architecture for the capabilities that
require further investigation. These efforts will define the next two decades
on the journey to Mars.
Through rigorous and systematic studies, NASA and our international and
industry partners have identified the core exploration capabilities necessary
for Earth Independence. These studies build on a long history of designing