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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.

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.

Dive deeper into the architecture effort using the navigation bar at top of this page. You can find historical details about exploration architectures, products from the agency’s annual Architecture Concept Review, and information about getting involved in the architecture effort.

2024 Architecture Concept Review

2024 Architecture Updates

As NASA develops a blueprint for space exploration throughout the solar system for the benefit of humanity, the agency released several new documents on Dec. 13 updating its Moon to Mars architecture. The roadmap sets NASA on course for long-term lunar exploration under the Artemis campaign in preparation for future crewed missions to Mars.  

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The Earth, Moon, and Mars depicted close together with dark space behind them in an illustration, lit from the top by the Sun.
An artist’s concept of the Earth, Moon, and Mars.

Architecture Documents

Executive Overview

Follow this link to view the most recent executive overview of NASA's Architecture Definition Document. For older versions, select "Architecture Definition Documents" from the "Architecture Resources" drop-down menu above. (PDF)

Architecture Definition Document

Follow this link to view the most recent revision of NASA's Architecture Definition Document. For older versions, select "Architecture Definition Documents" from the "Architecture Resources" drop-down menu above.

White Papers

Follow this link to view white papers published alongside the Architecture Definition Document. These white papers provide additional context on Moon to Mars Architecture development activities and associated analyses.

Lunar Exploration

Architecture and Artemis

We are going.

With Artemis missions, we are exploring the Moon for scientific discovery, technology advancement, and to learn how to live and work on another world as we prepare for human missions to Mars. The Artemis missions are a key steps in realizing NASA’s Moon to Mars Architecture and Objectives.

Learn More about Architecture and Artemis
Artemis II astronauts, from left, NASA astronaut Victor Glover (left), CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen, NASA astronauts Christina Koch and Reid Wiseman stand on the crew access arm of the mobile launcher at Launch Pad 39B as part of an integrated ground systems test at Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Wednesday, Sept. 20. The test ensures the ground systems team is ready to support the crew timeline on launch day. Photo Credit: NASA/Frank Michaux

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.