Moon to Mars Architecture

We’re designing a roadmap for long-term exploration of the lunar surface, our first steps on the Red Planet, and the journey beyond, working with our partners in industry, academia, and the international community.

What is Architecture?

When most think of architecture, they envision skyscrapers, cantilevered homes, or marbled museums. In this case, architecture isn’t the built environment. It isn’t a mission, a manifest, or a set of requirements. Instead, NASA’s Moon to Mars Architecture defines the elements needed for long-term, human-led scientific discovery in deep space.

NASA’s architecture approach distills agency-developed objectives into operational capabilities and elements that support science and exploration goals. Working with experts across the agency, industry, academia, and the international community, NASA continuously evolves that blueprint for crewed exploration, setting humanity on a path to the Moon, Mars, and beyond.

Dive deeper into the architecture effort using the navigation bar at top of this page. You can find historical details about exploration architectures, products from the agency’s annual Architecture Concept Review, and information about getting involved in the architecture effort.

Featured Story

NASA Shares Two New Moon to Mars Architecture White Papers

NASA has released two white papers associated with the agency’s Moon to Mars architecture efforts. The papers, one on lunar…

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Architecture Documents

Executive Overview

Follow this link to view the most recent executive overview of NASA's Architecture Definition Document. For older versions, select "Architecture Definition Documents" from the "Architecture Resources" drop-down menu above. (PDF)

Architecture Definition Document

Follow this link to view the most recent revision of NASA's Architecture Definition Document. For older versions, select "Architecture Definition Documents" from the "Architecture Resources" drop-down menu above.

White Papers

Follow this link to view white papers published alongside the Architecture Definition Document. These white papers provide additional context on Moon to Mars Architecture development activities and associated analyses.

Lunar Exploration

Architecture and Artemis

We are going.

With Artemis missions, we are exploring the Moon for scientific discovery, technology advancement, and to learn how to live and work on another world as we prepare for human missions to Mars. The Artemis missions are a key steps in realizing NASA’s Moon to Mars Architecture and Objectives.

Learn More about Architecture and Artemis

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