NASA announces the exploration plan of 2030 aiming for Mars with the space base "Deep Space Gateway" on the moon's orbit

Apart from the private SpaceX, NASA, which is pursuing its own Mars exploration plan, announced a concrete plan to explore Mars to reach Mars by 2030. According to this plan, NASA is a space base flying orbit near the moon "Deep Space Gateway"By bringing supplies, fuel, and personnel to another space ship"Deep Space Transport"It seems to be aiming for Mars on board.

Deep Space Gateway to Open Opportunities for Distant Destinations | NASA
https://www.nasa.gov/feature/deep-space-gateway-to-open-opportunities-for-distant-destinations

NASA Unveils Deep Space Gateway and Transport Architectures | Inverse
https://www.inverse.com/article/29948-nasa-deep-space-gateway-transport-architectures-mars-travel

In October 2015, NASA published a document "NASA's Journey to Mars: Pioneering Next Steps in Space Exploration (NASA's pioneering mission to space Mars: Pioneering Next Space Exploration Next-Generation Next Space Exploration)" that summarizes the concept of moving space exploration to reach Mars in October 2015 Challenge to become a step to be) "was announced. Among them, it is divided into three phases, "Earth Reliant (Earth Reliant)", "Proving Ground" (Space Verification Test), "Earth Independent" (Earth Independent), up to Mars, research to be conducted at each stage The content of the preparation is stated.


The document published by NASA is kore.

(PDF: 22MB)NASA's Journey to Mars - Pioneering Next Steps in Space Exploration - journey - to - mars - next - steps - 20151008_508.pdf


In this plan, there was no clear description about the way people and goods are conveyed to the universe in the future or Mars, but as of the end of March 2017 NASA announced concrete methods to realize them We did.

What is important in this plan are two kinds of structures called "Deep Space Gateway (DSG)" and "Deep Space Transport (DST)". DSG and DST are a large launch vehicle launched by NASA "Space launch system(SLS) "and will be launched by a rocket and will be assembled in outer space.


In planning, first the DSG is assembled in the first "Phase 1". DSG is a space station equipped with four people's living space and is used as a base to supply supplies, crews and fuel launched from the earth.


In the plan, from 2018 to 2025 we plan to launch the major modules of DSG in sequence. In "EM - 2" scheduled for 2023, DSG will be completed by launching the "power / propulsion module" with a generating capacity of 40 kW first, then assembling the "habitation module" and "transport module". After that, "Air Lock (airtight room)" module etc. are expected to be launched for expansion.


A completed image looks like this. In the upper left corner, the DSG with three modules connected is floating in space and the lower right shows the Orion spacecraft launched from Earth with SLS approaching for docking. DSG has the power to propel himself, moving from the "cis-lunar space" existing between the earth and the moon, between the orbit of the moon, suitable for the previous exploration from there You can move to a place.


When the DSG is completed, next we will launch the space ship 'Deep Space Transport (DST)' which aims at the actual deep space of Mars and beyond. DST is a large spacecraft that weighs as much as 41 tons and has a living space where four crew live a life and supplies food, water, medical equipment and mission supplies necessary for the 4-year road to Mars We will aim for the destination with such equipment.


The launch of DST will be carried out in 2027. After that, we checked around 200 days. From 2028 to 2029 cruise tests simulating real interplanetary navigation were carried out from 300 days to 400 days and there was no problem with long-distance and long-term navigation Check. When there is no problem and a go-ahead comes out, I will actually depart people and goods to Mars.


In addition, DST is not disposable, but it is designed to be reused many times. DSG is not only used by NASA but it is planned to be used by other countries and private institutions.