A Sustained Proximity Network for Multi-Mission Lunar Exploration

Abstract

Tbe Vision for Space Exploration calls for an aggressive sequence of robotic missions beginning in 2008 to prepare for a human return to the Moon by 2020, with the goal of establishing a sustained human presence beyond low Earth orbit A key enabler of exploration is reliable, available communication and navigation capabilities to snpport both human and robotic missions. An adaptable, sustainable communication and navigation architecture has been developed by Goddard Space Flight Center and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory to support human and robotic lonar exploration through the next two decades A key component of the architecture is scalable deployment, with the infrastrurture evolving as needs emerge, allowing NASA and its partner agencies to deploy an interoperable communication and navigation system in an evolutionary way, enabling cost effective, highly adaptable systems throughout the lunar exploration program. I.