Advancing the global exploration strategy: Results from the ISECG lunar architecture workshops

In 2007 (1), international space agencies expressed their "increasing intent and determination to explore earth's nearest companions, with the Moon as our nearest and first goal". It was in this spirit that in July 2008 the members of the International Space Exploration Coordination Group (ISECG) agreed to collectively explore ideas and plans for human exploration of the Moon as a first step, and to jointly develop the international human lunar reference architecture which may be used to inform subsequent decision milestones of individual agencies by mid-2010. From the latter half of 2008 through the present, interested agencies participated in a series of Lunar Architecture Workshops to begin the process of discussing human exploration of the Moon in the international community. Through the course of the workshops, participants considered how to best satisfy the human lunar exploration objectives of the international community, ultimately identifying three distinct scenarios worthy of more detailed analysis: polar outpost missions, sortie missions, and extended-stay missions. These scenarios provide the framework for the continued development and analysis of the international exploration of the Moon. This multilateral human lunar architecture study is planned to continue through mid-2010, with a goal of developing a reference human lunar architecture which may be used to inform subsequent decision milestones of individual agencies. This paper describes the processes whereby an international human lunar reference architecture is taking definition, informed by a set of common goals and objectives, and taking into account the substantial experience gained via the ISS Partnership along with emerging national interests in lunar exploration.