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NASA's objectives in space exploration are described first in the NASA Strategic Plan. Examine the Human Exploration and Development of Space description there to get a flavor of the scope of the HEDS activity and a roadmap for the next decade in human exploration and development of space. Several trends in space exploration are becoming evident and must be considered in designing programs and projects for space exploration. First, the growing capabilities of electronic and computer systems are greatly reducing the size and increasing the capabilities of automated spacecraft, enhancing our abilities to send precursor exploratory devices throughout the inner solar system. Second, the cost of space transportation is expected to become lower in the next few years, increasing the opportunities to send facilities and humans out beyond low Earth orbit. Third, the International Space Station is now being constructed, which will provide a test bed for many technologies and for the human component of space exploration beyond low Earth orbit.
Many intriguing possibilities exist in the next few years. NASA's Space Science program is focusing on the exploration of Mars, sending Mars Surveyor spacecraft to Mars at every opportunity (26 month centers) and anticipating returning the first documented samples from Mars by 2008. Beginning in 2001, these Mars missions will also carry experiments designed to resolve scientific and technology issues associated with human exploration. In 2001, the missions will conduct experiments on the Martian radiation environment and the properties of surface dust, as well as an experiment to learn whether oxygen can be produced from the Martian atmosphere. Other experiments will follow in 2003, 2005 and 2007 missions. The Mars Reference Mission for Human Exploration (NASA SP6107) and an addendum envisions human exploration beginning in 2011.
In 1998-1999 the Lunar Prospector spacecraft, developed for the Office of Space Science's Discovery Program discovered enhancements of hydrogen at both poles of the Moon. This has been interpreted by the Prospector's science team as being due to the presence of ice at the poles of the Moon. If this proves to be true, it may lead to a resumption of human lunar exploration, because of the resource potential of the Moon. Previously, the Moon has been identified as a potential source of materials for space solar power satellites and as an excellent place from which to conduct astronomical measurements.Topics of large scale human activities in space are also being discussed widely in the space community. These include such projects as solar power satellites, space tourism, and space industrial parks. This interest is sparked by progress being made on the International Space Station and in lowering the cost of transportation to space.
Asteroids have recently been in the news and in the movies. Whereas the dangers of asteroid impact are real, they are quite unlikely. We have the means to detect and track potentially damaging asteroids and could develop means of moving or destroying them, if we desired. The use of asteroid resources has also been identified as a potential path to space development.
All of these themes and more are open for design work. Most of those related to human exploration and development missions have not been explored in great detail. For example, NASA currently is preparing to publish its first description of the Mars Surface Mission, which addresses the goals, objectives and tasks to be performed by astronauts on Mars. Surely, this preliminary description will have many holes and opportunities for contributions by university teams.
If your university team is seeking advice on problem selection, please contact Dr. Kathleen Johnson at the Lunar and Planetary Institute (email:johnson@lpi.usra.edu; 281-244-2014).
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