NASA Details the Next 25 Years of Space Exploration

**Waqas** · September 23, 2011

NASA has just published the Global Exploration Roadmap, a document detailing the agency’s plans for the next 25 years of space exploration. It’s a must-read for anyone interested in the future of space technology, travel and exploration.

The 38-page document was developed by the International Space Exploration Coordination Group, which is comprised by 14 space agencies including Roscosmos (Russia), UKSA (the UK), CNSA (China) and NASA. It’s a vision of robotic and human space exploration within the Solar System, with the premise humans may one day live and work in space, the Moon and, perhaps, Mars.

The document is only a first iteration of the roadmap. But it’s very detailed and contains two post-ISS mission scenarios for the next 25-year period: “Asteroid Next” and “Moon Next.” Both options emphasize sustainability, but prioritize the order of sending humans to the Moon and asteroids differently.

Both scenarios are exciting, including a human mission to a near-Earth asteroid (NEA) in the 2030′s, a deep space habitat (DSH) in 2034, and – in the Moon Next scenario – a human mission to the moon in the 2020′s. The step next step would be sending humans to Mars, a dream many of us would love to see come true in our lifetimes.

Global Exploration Roadmap further details key objectives of space exploration and its impact on the economy and Earth safety. A special chapter is devoted to long-range human exploration strategy and the many challenges it brings. Another chapter details the role of the International Space Station as the first step towards the future of space exploration. There’s also mention of robotic missions, which should pave the way to human deep-space exploration.

Check out the two mission scenarios below and the entire Global Exploration Roadmap (in PDF format) here or the high-resolution version here or click below.

Images courtesy of NASA

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