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From page 500... ... 19 Human Exploration THE PIVOTAL ROLE OF SCIENCE IN HUMAN EXPLORATION Human exploration of space inspires our nation and the world while simultaneously benefiting our technology development, economic standing, and scientific knowledge.1 Human and robotic exploration of the solar system over the next decade and beyond will benefit from a logical, sustained, and science-focused approach. In this chapter, the committee addresses the opportunities for science within the context of current human exploration plans and priorities, as well as areas of planetary science that can support human flight activities. Read the entire page →
From page 501... ... HUMAN EXPLORATION 501 SCIENCE ENABLED BY HUMAN EXPLORERS Planetary science and astrobiology field studies benefit from an astronaut's ability to observe sites in striking detail, recognize unexpected observations, analyze critically in real-time to create and refine conceptual models, and react to changing conditions, hypotheses, and interpretations while in the field (McPhee and Charles 2020) Read the entire page →
From page 502... ... 502 ORIGINS, WORLDS, AND LIFE TABLE 19-1 Science Objectives (Non-Exhaustive List) Enabled or Facilitated by Humans at the Moon and/or Mars Priority Science Human Expertise Science Objective Questions Astronauts can be well-equipped to conduct sorties, Determine the origin, composition, and history 4.3, 5.5, 6.1, 10.3, 10.4 and sample and return intact cores deeper (>1 m) Read the entire page →
From page 503... ... HUMAN EXPLORATION 503 FIGURE 19-1 Artist rendition of a planned Artemis Base Camp. SOURCE: Courtesy of NASA. Read the entire page →
From page 504... ... 504 ORIGINS, WORLDS, AND LIFE BOX 19-1 Sustainability NASA has used the word "sustainable" to describe one goal for human lunar exploration through Artemis. As "sustainable" has not yet been defined in this context, we provide our working definition of "sustainable" as meaning that there are widely accepted reasons to continue human lunar exploration that justify the continued investment, commitment, and risk beyond a few missions. Read the entire page →
From page 505... ... HUMAN EXPLORATION 505 for the Moon and Mars are incorporated into systems-level requirements, for example, for Artemis. As described in the following section, the organizational structure currently in place for determining science requirements for human exploration diminishes the great potential of Artemis to accomplish transformational science. Read the entire page →
From page 506... ... 506 ORIGINS, WORLDS, AND LIFE within the Artemis program. This basic structural conflict compromises the Agency's ability to achieve decadallevel science through human exploration and undermines the optimal synergies between science and human exploration programs. Read the entire page →
From page 507... ... NASA formerly HEOMD Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate In September 2021, HEOMD was split into two Directorates: ESDMD and SOMD. The details of how this split The Planetary Science will affect underlying programs and and Astrobiology activities is unclear at present. Read the entire page →
From page 508... ... 508 ORIGINS, WORLDS, AND LIFE 6° of the south pole and consequently the SDT prioritized science that can be accomplished at a polar landing site. However, whether and how the SDT recommendations will be translated into requirements is currently at the discretion of the human exploration directorates. Read the entire page →
From page 509... ... HUMAN EXPLORATION 509 Human Enabled Decadal-Level Science at the Moon As human exploration advances into the solar system, it is essential that science is a driving motivation and that the science and human directorates within NASA work together efficiently and effectively. This desired synergy is exemplified by the Endurance-A rover mission (see Chapter 22 and Appendix C) Read the entire page →
From page 510... ... 510 ORIGINS, WORLDS, AND LIFE Community engagement and selection of a science planning team to work with the mission-architecture team would be central to accomplishing many of these goals. Recommendation: PSD should have the authority and responsibility for integrating science priorities into the human exploration plans for Mars. Read the entire page →
From page 511... ... HUMAN EXPLORATION 511 A TALE OF TWO ORBITERS: LRO AND IMIM A key tenet of enabling high-priority planetary science and astrobiology investigations to be accomplished through human exploration is the importance of carefully crafted collaboration between SMD and the human exploration directorates. NASA has utilized different approaches to this cross-directorate collaboration in various capacities, and here the committee considers a case study by comparing two mission examples -- Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) Read the entire page →
From page 512... ... 512 ORIGINS, WORLDS, AND LIFE At the time of this writing, iMIM's relationship to either the robotic Mars science program or the human Mars program is unclear. At the most recent public discussion (NASA 2021c) Read the entire page →
From page 513... ... HUMAN EXPLORATION 513 TABLE 19-2 Representative SMD Research and Development Activities to Enable and Optimize High-Priority Science from Artemis Activity Description Cold sampling and curation Laboratory studies to determine how to sample, transport, and curate volatile samples at cold temperatures to optimize sample integrity and science return. Identify and develop facilities required to handle, store, and analyze volatile samples from the lunar pole, including cryogenic transport and curation. Read the entire page →
From page 514... ... 514 ORIGINS, WORLDS, AND LIFE ence and exploration payloads to these planetary destinations, which will advance science objectives outlined in this decadal survey, the NASA strategic plan, and similar guiding documents. While NASA's Payloads and Research Investigations on the Surface of the Moon (PRISM) Read the entire page →
From page 515... ... HUMAN EXPLORATION 515 science and astrobiology payloads sent to the Moon and Mars onboard human-scale vehicles (test flights as well as crewed missions) would bring much increased payload capacities that could provide uniquely science-enabling capabilities. Read the entire page →
From page 516... ... 516 ORIGINS, WORLDS, AND LIFE Hodges, K.V., and H.H. Schmitt. Read the entire page →
From page 517... ... HUMAN EXPLORATION 517 Phinney, W.C. Read the entire page →

From page 500...

... 19 Human Exploration THE PIVOTAL ROLE OF SCIENCE IN HUMAN EXPLORATION Human exploration of space inspires our nation and the world while simultaneously benefiting our technology development, economic standing, and scientific knowledge.1 Human and robotic exploration of the solar system over the next decade and beyond will benefit from a logical, sustained, and science-focused approach. In this chapter, the committee addresses the opportunities for science within the context of current human exploration plans and priorities, as well as areas of planetary science that can support human flight activities.