From Artemis I to Mars missions; NASA’s roadmap for the future

NASA on Tuesday released its revised Moon to Mars objectives which will serve as a roadmap for future missions. The space agency is beginning with the Artemis I mission which is set to launch at the end of this month after two failed launch attempts. According to the NASA blog, the space agency is calling for inputs from industry, experts, academia, stakeholders and international communities to further improve its objectives for deep space travel.

NASA’s Artemis missions will provide a way for the space agency to prepare astronauts for future Mars missions. The Artemis programme is NASA’s attempt to go back to the Moon for the first time since the Apollo 17 mission in 1972. NASA has finally prepared 63 revised objectives which cover four broad topics – science, transportation & habitation, Lunar & Martian infrastructure and operations.

NASA’s objective preparation

NASA Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy said in the blog, “We need a roadmap with staying power, and through a collaborative process, we’ve identified a core set of defined objectives to achieve our exploration goals with our partners. These objectives are both practical and aspirational, and we were gratified by the thoughtful contributions of our workforce, industry, and international partners who will join us in shaping our future together.”

The preparation for these objectives began in November last year with the help of Agency Cross-Directorate Federated Board. According to NASA, these objectives will help the space agency in working better with the other nations and might even open up opportunities for future collaboration during deep space missions.

Jim Free, NASA’s associate administrator for the Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate said, “We’re helping to steward humanity’s global movement to deep space.”

“The objectives will help ensure a long-term strategy for solar system exploration can retain constancy of purpose and weather political and funding changes. They help provide clear direction as new technologies, vehicles, and elements are developed in the coming years and are designed to be realistically achievable,” he added further.