Long Term Exploration Scenarios for Europe, and next Logical Step
- Paper number
IAC-07-A5.2.06
- Author
Mr. Max Grimard, EADS Astrium, France
- Coauthor
Ms. Agnès Salvatori, EADS Astrium, France
- Coauthor
Mr. Hans-Joerg Heidmann, EADS Astrium GmbH, Germany
- Year
2007
- Abstract
Space Exploration environment has been dramatically changed by the US Vision announced by President Bush in 2004, focusing the attention on the human exploration of the Moon. However the field of Space Exploration is still very large, with various destinations, and the possibility to explore either with robots and humans. On that respect Europe has not yet decided what will its long term core path for Exploration, and has the choice between various options :
- Focus human space flight activities in LEO, with an extension of or a follow-on to the ISS
- Contribute to the settlement of a Lunar Outpost with the US and other international partners, by 2020 (e.g. cargo transport, surface means)
- Perform a systematic robotic exploration of the Moon, as a complement to the human US initiative (e.g. geophysics network, sampling in various places)
- Focus on Mars robotic exploration
The paper will describe these various alternatives, and present the pros and cons, from a European point of view. Whatever these long-term futures, Europe will need to acquire key capabilities it has not yet mastered : soft precision landing, planetary ascent, high-speed Earth re-entry, robotic support and subsurface drilling, sample handling, in-situ resource utilisation, habitation and life support and EVA, surface mobility, power management, etc.
Some of these capabilities can be acquired at limited cost, through precursor robotic missions towards the Moon, the closest planetary target.
Mixing technology demonstration and scientific objectives, a European precursor Moon lander mission shall be the next logical step to be decided in short term, keeping the door open for various futures.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-07-A5.2.06.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
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