Photo source: Thinkstock
Washington, October 10
The US space agency has released a
detailed outline of its plans to send manned mission to Mars.
In a report titled 'NASA's Journey
to Mars: Pioneering Next Steps in Space Exploration', agency administrator
Charles Bolden said that NASA is closer to sending American astronauts to Mars
than at any point in our history.
"Today, we are publishing
additional details about our journey to Mars plan and how we are aligning all
of our work in support of this goal. In the coming weeks, I look forward to
continuing to discuss the details of our plan with members of Congress, as well
as our commercial and our international and partners, many of whom will be
attending the International Astronautical Congress next week," he said in
a statement.
The journey to Mars crosses three
thresholds, each with increasing challenges as humans move farther from Earth.
The ‘Earth Reliant’ exploration is
focused on research aboard the International Space Station.
"From this world-class
microgravity laboratory, we are testing technologies and advancing human health
and performance research that will enable deep space, long duration
missions," Bolden added.
In the "Proving Ground",
NASA will learn to conduct complex operations in a deep space environment that
allows crews to return to Earth in a matter of days.
"NASA will advance and validate
capabilities required for humans to live and work at distances much farther
away from our home planet, such as at Mars," he stated.
‘Earth Independent’ activities build
on what we learn on the space station and in deep space to enable human
missions to the Mars vicinity, possibly to low-Mars orbit or one of the Martian
moons, and eventually the Martian surface.
Future Mars missions will represent
a collaborative effort between NASA and its partners — a global achievement
that marks a transition in humanity's expansion as we go to Mars to seek the
potential for sustainable life beyond Earth.
Living and working in space require
accepting risks — and the journey to Mars is worth the risks.
A new and powerful space
transportation system is key to the journey, but NASA also will need to learn
new ways of operating in space, based on self-reliance and increased system
reliability.
"We will use proving ground
missions to validate transportation and habitation capabilities as well as new
operational approaches to stay productive in space while reducing reliance on
Earth." the statement further read.
With the
Space Launch System, Orion crewed spacecraft, and revitalised space launch
complex, the US space agency is developing core transportation capabilities for
the journey to Mars and ensuring continued access for commercial crew and cargo
partners to maintain operations and stimulate new economic activity in
low-Earth orbit. — IANS
