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Description
One way Human space exploration could possibly look in the 2020s, based on NASA papers. Orion visits a Cis-Lunar station (orbiting high above the Moon), consisting of a Deep Space Cygnus as Augmentation Service Module (ASM), a modified Boeing NEXT-Step designed Node Module (NM) in the center providing a base for a robot arm, and a NASA Habitat Module (HM) that would be reconfigurable for many missions. A Deep Space Cargo Dragon (based on Dragon 2) has docked to the station to provide supplies.

This configuration shows the 7.2m diameter Habitat module design, based on SLS tooling, but designed to fit under the 8.4m payload fairing (NASA is also investigating an 8.4m variant, and a privately designed module). The ISS partners are also interested in becoming involved with this by contributing hardware.

Using this setup, or something similar to it, NASA intends to stress-test the most cutting edge life support systems far away from the Earth's magnetic field. They propose a series of longer missions, eventually up to a year, which would prove that the systems are robust enough to handle something like a Mars flyby. During this time, the station would make an ideal location to study the surface of the Moon and perhaps control robotic landers on the surface.

Description
One way Human space exploration could possibly look in the 2020s, based on NASA papers. Orion visits a Cis-Lunar station (orbiting high above the Moon), consisting of a Deep Space Cygnus as Augmentation Service Module (ASM), a modified Boeing NEXT-Step designed Node Module (NM) in the center providing a base for a robot arm, and a NASA Habitat Module (HM) that would be reconfigurable for many missions. A Deep Space Cargo Dragon (based on Dragon 2) has docked to the station to provide supplies.

This configuration shows the 7.2m diameter Habitat module design, based on SLS tooling, but designed to fit under the 8.4m payload fairing (NASA is also investigating an 8.4m variant, and a privately designed module). The ISS partners are also interested in becoming involved with this by contributing hardware.

Using this setup, or something similar to it, NASA intends to stress-test the most cutting edge life support systems far away from the Earth's magnetic field. They propose a series of longer missions, eventually up to a year, which would prove that the systems are robust enough to handle something like a Mars flyby. During this time, the station would make an ideal location to study the surface of the Moon and perhaps control robotic landers on the surface.