NASA has released the outcomes from its first Architecture Concept Review, a process designed to align the agency’s Moon to Mars exploration strategy and codify the supporting architecture. The Architecture Definition Document, written for highly technical audiences, provides a deep dive into NASA’s Moon to Mars architecture approach and development process.

The agency also released six supporting white papers addressing frequently discussed exploration architecture topics:

• Systems Analysis of Architecture Drivers 
• Why NRHO: The Artemis Orbit
• Why Artemis will Focus on the Lunar South Polar Region
• Gateway: The Cislunar Springboard for International and Sustainable Human Deep Space Exploration
• Mars-Forward Capabilities to be Tested at the Moon
• Mars Transportation

NASA’s Moon to Mars architecture represents the hardware and operations needed for human missions to the Moon and Mars, and how they function together as a system. The architecture is not a mission, a manifest, or a set of requirements, but it defines the elements — rockets, spacecraft, rovers, spacesuits, communications relays, and more — that will be incrementally developed and delivered to the Moon and Mars for long-term, human-led scientific discovery in deep space.

NASA’s approach for Moon to Mars exploration strategy

NASA’s approach for Moon to Mars exploration strategy is designed to ensure exploration of the Moon and Mars has staying power. The agency’s Moon to Mars architecture represents the hardware and operations needed for human missions to the Moon and Mars, and how they function together as a system.

NASA’s Moon to Mars objectives

NASA released its revised Moon to Mars Objectives in 2022, covering four broad areas: science, transportation and habitation, lunar and Martian infrastructure, and operations. These objectives were informed by input from U.S. industry, international space agencies, NASA’s workforce, and others.

NASA’s Architecture Concept Review

NASA’s Architecture Concept Review is a milestone that will help the Moon to Mars strategy unfold through the objectives in missions both near and long term. The agency plans yearly Architecture Concept Reviews to incorporate new technological capabilities and evolving objectives.

NASA’s Architecture Definition Document

NASA’s Architecture Definition Document, written for highly technical audiences, provides a deep dive into NASA’s Moon to Mars architecture approach and development process. Six supporting white papers also released address frequently discussed exploration architecture topics.

Future exploration plans under Artemis

Under Artemis, NASA has set a vision to explore more of the Moon than ever before. With the crew for Artemis II recently named, the agency plans to return humans to the Moon and establish a cadence of missions starting at the lunar South Pole region. These missions set up a long-term presence to inform future exploration of Mars and other potential destinations in the solar system.