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Space Weather and NASA’s Moon to Mars Exploration Strategy

ISWAT Working Meeting, February 2025

Jamie Favors

Director, NASA Space Weather Program�

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NASA Space Weather Program & Human Exploration�Programmatic Updates

Dr. Sabrina Savage has joined the NASA Space Weather Program team at Headquarters as the Lead for Human Exploration

LEAG (Lunar Exploration Analysis Group) has added a new position to represent Heliophysics

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HERMES

(since moved to starboard side)

HERMES: NASA’s First Science Payload on Gateway

Sun-pointing Direction

PPE

(Power & Propulsion Element, Maxar)

HALO

(Habitation & Logistics Outpost, NG)

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Space Weather and�NASA’s Moon to Mars Architecture

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The centerpiece of the Moon to Mars strategy are goals and objectives that serve as the guidepost for the years-long endeavor and the “architect from the right” design philosophy. Many of these objectives are science-focused.

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There are four objectives directly focused on heliophysics and space weather. (next chart)

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Numerous other objectives are enabled or informed by space weather science and operations. (two charts forward)

Moon to Mars Objectives

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Goal: Address high-priority heliophysics science and space weather questions that are best accomplished using a combination of human explorers and robotic systems at the Moon, at Mars, and in deep space.

Moon to Mars Strategy: Heliophysics Science (HS) Goal and Objectives

HS-1: Improve understanding of space weather phenomena to enable enhanced observation and prediction of the dynamic environment from space to the surface at the Moon and Mars

HS-2: Determine the history of the Sun and solar system as recorded in the lunar and Martin regolith

HS-3: Investigate and characterize fundamental plasma processes, including dust- plasma interactions, using the cislunar, near-Mars, and surface environments as laboratories

HS-4: Improve understanding of magnetotail and pristine solar wind dynamics in the vicinity of the Moon and around Mars

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Moon to Mars Strategy: Heliophysics Objectives

Recurring Tenets

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The Recurring Tenets (RTs) capture common themes that are broadly applicable across all of the Moon to Mars objectives and goals.

RT-3

Crew Return: Return crews safely to Earth while mitigating adverse impacts to crew health.

Science-Enabling (SE) Objectives

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Goal: Develop integrated human and robotic methods and advanced techniques that enable high-priority scientific questions to be addressed around and on the Moon and Mars.

SE-1

Provide in-depth, mission-specific science training for astronauts to enable crew to perform high-priority or transformational science on the surface of the Moon, and Mars, and in deep space.

SE-2

Enable Earth-based scientists to remotely support astronaut surface and deep space activities using advanced techniques and tools.

Applied Science (AS) Objectives

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Goal: Conduct science on the Moon, in cislunar space, and around and on Mars using integrated human and robotic methods and advanced techniques, to inform design and development of exploration systems and enable safe operations.

AS-1

Characterize and monitor the contemporary environments of the lunar and Martian surfaces and orbits, including investigations of micrometeorite flux, atmospheric weather, space weather, space weathering, and dust, to plan, support, and monitor safety of crewed operations in these locations.

AS-2

Coordinate on-going and future science measurements from orbital and surface platforms to optimize human-led science campaigns on the Moon and Mars.

Lunar Infrastructure (LI) Objectives

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Goal: Create an interoperable global lunar utilization infrastructure where U.S. industry and international partners can maintain continuous robotic and human presence on the lunar surface for a robust lunar economy without NASA as the sole user, while accomplishing science objectives and testing for Mars.

L1-9

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Develop environmental monitoring, situational awareness, and early warning capabilities to support a resilient, continuous human/robot lunar presence.

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Space Weather and

Mars Exploration

  • Challenge: We currently have observational (e.g., Mars-Sun L1) & modeling gaps that limit our ability to monitor and predict space weather at Mars.
  • Mars Space Weather Collaboration (MAVEN*, M2M, CCMC, & SRAG) team is developing analysis products and tools for space weather monitoring at Mars
  • Expansion of the Heliophysics fleet at Mars: RAD (Curiosity rover) and ESCAPADE (image to left)
  • SWAG User Needs Survey includes human exploration needs at Mars
  • What does an “Earth-independent space weather capability” look like?

* MAVEN (Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution) mission in SMD/Planetary Science Division

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Thank You!

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