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Pages 526-544

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From page 526...
... 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.
From page 527...
... 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.
From page 528...
... 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 Determine the origin, composition, and history 4.3, 5.5, 6.1, sorties and sample and return intact cores of ice deposits 10.3, 10.4 deeper (>1 m)
From page 529...
... Astronauts are most effective when they are well trained not only in the engineering and operations of vehicle and hardware components but also in field geology (and astrobiology, where appropriate) and scientific research techniques.
From page 530...
... FIGURE 19.1. Artist rendition of a planned Artemis Base Camp.
From page 531...
... determining the extent of resource recoverability, understanding variability that may make some deposits more scientifically important than others, and development of means to ensure oversight and equitable use. Therefore, to ensure the availability of resources, especially water ice, for scientific use, the capability for NASA to map and understand the resources is critical.
From page 532...
... States will lead the return of humans to the Moon for long-term exploration and utilization, followed by human missions to Mars and other destinations". In response, NASA PSD (Planetary Science Division)
From page 533...
... NASA's Organizational Structure for Incorporating Science into Artemis NASA's Artemis activities to date have been primarily conducted within HEOMD, and these are the focus of discussion here. How the Fall 2021 reorganization of HEOMD into ESDMD and SpaceOps will affect Artemis is unclear at this time.
From page 534...
... FIGURE 19.2. NASA organization structure highlighting the lunar-relevant entities within SMD, human exploration, and STMD.
From page 535...
... Artemis. This situation is exacerbated by the lack of an LDEP (Lunar Discovery and Exploration Program)
From page 536...
... desired synergy is exemplified by the Endurance-A rover mission (see Chapter 22 and Appendix C)
From page 537...
... 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.
From page 538...
... 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 Reconnance Orbiter (LRO)
From page 539...
... select locales but would not have the ability to determine properties relevant to the Mars climate science goals, such as the distribution of ice below its upper surface, the ice purity, or the degree of pore filling. Furthermore, there is concern that the measurements (as presented 23 November 2020, Mars Panel and 21 June 2021, MEPAG)
From page 540...
... SMD/PSD needs to identify long-lead activities and fund work to close knowledge gaps and develop key hardware and capabilities to enable high priority science within Artemis missions (e.g., develop astronaut tools and hand-held instruments for use on the Moon, long-lived deployable instrument packages, next generation sample collection systems for volatiles, cryogenic sample collection and curation capabilities, etc)
From page 541...
... TABLE 19.2 Representative SMD Research and Development Activities to Enable and Optimize HighPriority 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 Sample science Determine sampling details for all sample types (sample masses, types, containers, collection operations, contamination knowledge, curation, lab analysis, etc)
From page 542...
... planning within NASA needs to begin immediately to prepare for payloads on the first uncrewed Starship flights, likely first to the Moon and then for Mars. Planetary science and astrobiology payloads sent to the Moon and Mars onboard human-scale vehicles (test flights as well as crewed missions)
From page 543...
... activities. In addition, NASA benefits by working with other government agencies where appropriate to take advantage of government-wide expertise as applicable to support human exploration activities, such as USGS for resource prospecting and astronaut field training, and NSF (National Science Foundation)
From page 544...
... MEPAG (2020) , Mars Scientific Goals, Objectives, Investigations, and Priorities: 2020.

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