| In the year 2004, American President, George W. | | | | computers, electronics, life support, propulsion, and |
| Bush, outlined goals for NASA after the completion | | | | heat protection systems. |
| of the International Space Station in 2010. Bush | | | | The U.S. Space Agency plans to create a solar |
| stated that " our... goal is to develop and test a new | | | | powered, manned outpost on the Moon. The final |
| spacecraft, the Crew Exploration Vehicle, by 2008, | | | | decision concerning the location of that outpost will |
| and to conduct the first manned mission no later than | | | | be made after NASA's robotic Lunar Reconnaissance |
| 2014. The Crew Exploration Vehicle will be capable of | | | | Orbiter (LRO) begins to survey the Moon in 2008. In |
| ferrying astronauts and scientists to the Space | | | | fact, the scheduled launch event in October of 2008 |
| Station after the shuttle is retired. But the main | | | | of this robotic probe (with its laser altimeter and |
| purpose of this spacecraft will be to carry astronauts | | | | other instruments) is a mission designed to produce |
| beyond our orbit to other worlds. This will be the first | | | | an accurate global map of the Moon for all upcoming |
| spacecraft of its kind since the Apollo Command | | | | expeditions there. |
| Module". | | | | However, it may be that NASA scientists already |
| Bush continued: "Our next goal is to return to the | | | | have a potential spot for a manned outpost in mind. |
| Moon by 2020, as the launching point for missions | | | | An area that is already receiving attention by NASA's |
| beyond. Beginning no later than 2008, we will send a | | | | lunar architecture team is at the South Pole in a spot |
| series of robotic missions to the lunar surface to | | | | on the rim of Shackleton Crater. The area is almost |
| research and prepare for future human exploration. | | | | always sunlit, but it is also adjacent to a permanently |
| Using the Crew Exploration Vehicle, we will undertake | | | | dark location. Wherever it is located, the outpost on |
| extended human missions to the Moon as early as | | | | the Moon would be built in incremental steps, starting |
| 2015, with the goal of living and working there for | | | | with four person crews making several seven day |
| increasingly extended periods". | | | | visits. |
| The planning by NASA for the lunar mission outlined in | | | | It is projected that the first mission to develop the |
| that 2004 speech by President Bush is well underway. | | | | lunar outpost would begin by 2020. The base would |
| In fact, the plan encourages participation by other | | | | grow over time into a lunar town, beefed up with |
| nations of the world. In addition, NASA also envisions | | | | more power, mobility rovers, and living quarters. The |
| participation by non-governmental organizations and | | | | Moon base would eventually support 180 day lunar |
| commercial groups. NASA is interested in international | | | | stays. This stretch of time is seen as the best way |
| participation in the project similar to the International | | | | to establish a permanent presence there. By going to |
| Space Station mission. | | | | the Moon for extended periods of time, astronauts |
| The name of the program to return astronauts to | | | | will search for resources and learn how to work |
| the Moon is "Constellation". Constellation is developing | | | | safely in a harsh environment to prepare for a future |
| new spacecraft and is expected to be fully | | | | human exploration of Mars. |
| operational by 2016. The Constellation program | | | | Thirty-five years ago this week, Astronauts Gene |
| requires the development of launchers called Ares | | | | Cernan, Ron Evans, and Jack Schmitt were early |
| rockets. These Ares launchers are named for the | | | | explorers on the surface of the Moon. Today, NASA |
| Greek god associated with Mars. These launchers will | | | | is planning not only for a visit, but also for a |
| return humans to the Moon and later take them to | | | | permanent base on the surface of the Moon by |
| Mars and other destinations. | | | | astronauts in the year 2020. |
| NASA's Orion spacecraft (now in development) is | | | | The long term goal of future space exploration for |
| America's first new manned spacecraft since the | | | | NASA was outlined by President George Bush in his |
| space shuttle 30 years ago. Orion will be capable of | | | | speech in 2004. Several years later, the planning, |
| carrying crew and cargo to the International Space | | | | development and logistics of this mission are on |
| Station after 2010. Orion will be the Earth entry | | | | schedule. The Constellation program has taken the |
| vehicle for lunar and Mars returns. Orion's design will | | | | initial steps to make a manned lunar outpost for a |
| borrow its shape from the capsules of the past, but | | | | journey to Mars a future reality. |
| it will take advantage of modern technology in | | | | |