Evaluating science return in Space Exploration Initiative architectures

Abstract

Science is an important aspect of the Space Exploration Initiative, a program to explore the Moon and Mars with people and machines. We here evaluate different SEI mission archtiectures on the basis of three variables: access (to the planet's surface), capability (including number of crew, equipment, and supporting infrastructure), and time (being the total number of man-hours available for scientific activities). This technique allows us to estimate the scientific return to be expected from different architectures and from different implementations of the same architecture. Our methodology allows us to maximize the scientific return from the initiative by illuminating the different emphases and returns that result from alternative architectural decisions.