|
|
DRAFT Lunar Exploration RoadmapThe Lunar Exploration Roadmap Version 1.0 is the first version of a living document that will be updated and further developed over time as more data becomes available from current missions, as further analyses by LEAG Specific Action Teams impact the roadmap, and as other relevant analyses are reported. The Lunar Exploration Roadmap Version 1.0 should not be considered as final and suggestions for revisions can be given to the LEAG Chair, the LEAG Executive Secretary or via the e-mail address at the LEAG website (http://www.lpi.usra.edu/leag). The three themes described below and in the companion Excel spreadsheet, are at various degrees of fidelity. The Science Theme has a long heritage of study, including NRC studies, and represents community consensus. The Feed Forward Theme has been presented to the Mars Exploration Program Analysis Group and their comments have been incorporated. The Sustainability Theme is at the lowest fidelity, representing a small (but growing) body of opinion, and will require refinements, which will begin at the 2009 LEAG Annual Meeting. Overall the roadmap is intended to layout an integrated and sustainable plan for lunar exploration that will allow NASA to transition from the Moon to Mars (and beyond) without abandoning the lunar assets built up using tax payer dollars. As such, the roadmap will enable commercial development, through early identification of “commercial on ramps”, that will create wealth and jobs to offset the initial investment of the taxpayer. In addition, the roadmap will, with careful planning, enable international cooperation to expand our scientific and economic spheres of influence while enabling an expansion of human and robotic space exploration. The draft of the roadmap is presented in two different ways and can be downloaded as
|
 |
