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An illustration of the Moon and Mars above the Earth's horizon.

Moon to Mars Architecture

We’re designing a roadmap for long-term exploration of the lunar surface, our first steps on the Red Planet, and the journey beyond, working with our partners in industry, academia, and the international community.

Introduction

What is Architecture?

When most think of architecture, they envision skyscrapers, cantilevered homes, or marbled museums. In this case, architecture isn’t the built environment. It isn’t a mission, a manifest, or a set of requirements. Instead, NASA’s Moon to Mars Architecture defines the elements needed for long-term, human-led scientific discovery in deep space.

NASA’s architecture approach distills agency-developed objectives into operational capabilities and elements that support science and exploration goals. Working with experts across the agency, industry, academia, and the international community, NASA continuously evolves that blueprint for crewed exploration, setting humanity on a path to the Moon, Mars, and beyond.

Architecture Update

2023 Architecture Concept Review Results

On Tuesday, January 23, NASA released the outcomes of its 2023 Moon to Mars Architecture Concept Review, the agency’s process to build a roadmap for exploration of the solar system for the benefit of humanity.

Learn More about 2023 Architecture Concept Review Results

Our Process

Define the Architecture

In collaboration with other agency directorates – Space OperationsScienceSpace Technology, and Aeronautics – as well as commercial, academic, and international partners, NASA’s Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate develops systems for Moon to Mars exploration. Within the directorate, NASA’s Strategy and Architecture Office leads definition, documentation, and disposition of the overarching Moon to Mars architecture with buy-in from all stakeholders.

A diagram illustrating the objective decomposition process.
A diagram illustrating the objective decomposition process.

Architecting from the right, the Strategy and Architecture Office begins with the broadest goals – farthest in the future on the timeline. From there, they ensure that each objective is traced to relevant architectural elements. A yearly strategic analysis cycle informs architecture decisions by identifying technology gaps and needed capabilities. Based on this analysis, NASA develops solutions that fulfill objectives for crewed exploration.

A diagram illustrating the annual cadence of NASA's Architecture Concept Review process.
A diagram illustrating the annual cadence of NASA’s Architecture Concept Review process.

The primary result of these efforts is the Architecture Definition Document, released after the annual Architecture Concept Review with updated from a yearly strategic analysis cycle. Additional products developed by the Strategy and Architecture office include workshops, webinars, white papers, and other resources that explain or expand upon concepts withing the Architecture Definition Document.

Featured Story

NASA Conducts Annual Moon to Mars Architecture Concept Review

NASA hosted its second annual Architecture Concept Review in mid-November, bringing together leaders from across the agency to discuss progress…

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Dive Deeper

Explore the Architecture

NASA’s Moon to Mars Architecture is the roadmap for our return to the Moon and our future exploration of Mars. The strategy and objectives documents below set NASA’s long-term goals for human exploration of our solar system, while the architecture seeks to ensure that human spaceflight missions — starting with Artemis and continuing to Mars and beyond — achieve those ambitions. 

The tabs below host information about some of the architecture-related resources produced by the Strategy and Architecture Office. NASA makes these materials available to the general public and partner organizations to grow understanding of the Moon to Mars effort and to facilitate discussion and collaboration on the architecture.

Architecture Definition Documents

Yearly, NASA publishes an updated Architecture Definition Document that explains the Moon to Mars architecture in deep technical detail. NASA also releases an executive summary that provides an overview of the architecture process and updates to the architecture from that year.

View the Documents
Artist concept of Artemis astronaut on moon with Lunar rover and Earth crescent in the background.
Illustration of Artemis astronaut on moon with Lunar rover and Earth crescent in the background.
NASA
Featured Story

NASA Begins Feedback Process for Moon to Mars Architecture

As NASA builds a blueprint for human exploration throughout the solar system for the benefit of humanity, efforts to advance…

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Engage with Us

Become an Architect

NASA has a long, successful history of working with a diverse community of partners to advance common space exploration and science objectives. The agency is committed to building on and broadening these global partnerships as we establish a sustained presence on the Moon and venture on to Mars.

Hear from us!

Fill out the form linked below if you’d like to be added to the mailing list for updates on NASA’s Moon to Mars Architecture.

Updates are intended for organizations seeking to engage with the architecture process or provide feedback on the architecture.

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140 attendees representing 110 industry and academic organizations attended the Moon to Mars Architecture Workshop on Feb. 22. In this photo, attendees and NASA personnel gather for a photo in the great hall of the National Academy of Sciences in Washington.
140 attendees representing 110 industry and academic organizations attended the Moon to Mars Architecture Workshop on Feb. 22. In this photo, attendees and NASA personnel gather for a photo in the great hall of the National Academy of Sciences in Washington.