THE SPACE EXPLORATION INITIATIVE [1989]

Slide 49(A) of 99

Notes:

"First, for the coming decade, for the 1990s, Space Station Freedom, our critical next step in all our space endeavors. And next, for the next century, back to the Moon, back to the future, and this time, back to stay. And then a journey into tomorrow, a journey to another planet, a manned mission to Mars..."

-- President George Bush, July 21st 1989

With these words, President Bush directed NASA to start planning for ambitious new missions to the Moon and Mars. Vice President Dan Quayle and National Space Council director Mark Albrecht had been formulating the project in secret since June. This angered officials in the Office of Management and Budget, who complained about being kept in the dark and regarded the SEI as totally unrealistic since it would require a doubling of NASA's budget over the next ten years. Congress concurred since it had recently passed the Gramm-Rudman-Hollins deficit reduction act. There was no money in the federal budget for expensive new space endeavors. Nonetheless, NASA was asked to report back to the President's Space Council on how to implement the plan. The resulting "90-Day Study" prepared by a NASA/Johnson Space Center team led by JSC Director Aaron Cohen contained five alternatives but no specific recommendations. The five "reference approaches" had slightly different priorities: (A) balance and speed, (B) the earliest possible landing on Mars, (C) reduced logistics from Earth /in-situ resource utilization, (D) schedule adapted to Space Station Freedom, and (E) reduced scale. The timetable was as follows:

MILESTONE Reference Approach A Reference Approach B Reference Approach C Reference Approach D Reference Approach E

Lunar Emplacement 1999-2004 1999-2004 1999-2004 2002-2007 2002-2007

Lunar Consolidation 2004-2009 2004-2007 2004-2008 2007-2012 2008-2013

Lunar Operation 2010- 2005- 2005- 2013- 2014-

Humans on the Moon 2001 2001 2001 2004 2004

Permanent Habitation 2002 2002 2002 2005 -

Constructible Habitat 2005 2006 2007 2008 2011

Eight Crew 2006 2007 2007 2009 -

Lunar Oxygen Use 2010 2005 2005 2013 -

Lunar Farside Sortie 2012 2008 2008 2015 2022

Lunar Steady State Mode 2012 2008 2012 2015 -

Mars Emplacement 2015-2019 2010-2015 2015-2019 2017-2022 2024-

Mars Consolidation 2020-2022 2015-2018 2020-2022 2022- -

Mars Operation 2022- 2018- 2022- - -

Humans on Mars 2016 2011 2016 2018 2016

Extended Mars Stay 2018 2014 2018 2023 2027

An unmanned lunar sample-return craft departs Mare Imbrium

Meanwhile, NASA would be busy preparing the recently completed Space Station Freedom for its expanded role as a spaceport for manned lunar missions. The 60 x 35-meter "Dual Keel" beam structure that was postponed indefinitely in 1987-88 would have to be built after all -- initially to support flights of expendable moonbase cargo transfer vehicles. It would contain a hangar / servicing facility for reusable Lunar Transfer Vehicle "space tugs" (LTVs) and would cost at least $188 million. Two 75KW solar dynamic power generators would have to be added at a cost of at least $712 million. The additional power is required for the LTV facility and to support an enlarged crew of 14-16 astronauts temporarily for lunar missions. NASA identified four separate upgrades to Freedom that gradually would have increased its capabilities by adding more habitation modules, power, space vehicle processing facilities and crewmembers. The Space Station would support two lunar missions per year in 1999-2002 but there will be no Lunar Transfer Vehicle refurbishment capabilities at this point so all missions would have to be expendable. Additional solar-dynamic power generators and other equipment would permit LTV servicing in 2003- and Freedom would support up to three lunar missions per year beginning in 2004.

	PHASE ONE CONFIGURATION	LUNAR TRANSFER VEHICLE VERIFICATION FLIGHT	EXPENDABLE LUNAR TRANSFER VEHICLE OPERATIONS	REUSABLE LUNAR TRANSFER VEHICLE OPERATIONS	LUNAR & MARS OPERATIONS
NUMBER OF HABITATION MODULES	1	1	2	2	2
TRUSS STRUCTURE	Transverse Boom only	+Lower Keels & Lower Boom	Lower Keels & Lower Boom	Lower Keels & Lower Boom	Upper & Lower Keels & Booms; Mars Vehicle Support Structure
POWER	75KW	125KW	125KW	175KW	175KW
CREW [Permanent]	8	10	10	12	12
CREW [Transient]	-	-	4 lunar astronauts	4 lunar astronauts	4 lunar or Mars
VEHICLE PROCESSING	-	Lunar Vehicle Service Track Assembly	Enclosed Lunar Transfer Vehicle Hangar	Enclosed Lunar Transfer Vehicle Hangar	Enclosed Lunar Transfer Vehicle Hangar; Mars Vehicle Assembly Facility
NUMBER OF REMOTE MANIPULATORS	1	1	1	2	2
NUMBER OF MOBILE TRANSPORTERS	1	1	1	1	2

SHUTTLE-C

A Lunar Transfer Vehicle (LTV) jettisons two propellant tanks after leaving Earth orbit.

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Lunar Excursion Vehicle (right) rendezvous with LTV in lunar orbit.

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Lunar Excursion Vehicle lands on the Moon with payload.

SOURCES:

REPORT OF THE 90-DAY STUDY ON HUMAN EXPLORATION OF THE MOON AND MARS , NASA/Johnson Space Center [November 1989]

MILESTONE	Reference Approach A	Reference Approach B	Reference Approach C	Reference Approach D	Reference Approach E
Lunar Emplacement	1999-2004	1999-2004	1999-2004	2002-2007	2002-2007
Lunar Consolidation	2004-2009	2004-2007	2004-2008	2007-2012	2008-2013
Lunar Operation	2010-	2005-	2005-	2013-	2014-
Humans on the Moon	2001	2001	2001	2004	2004
Permanent Habitation	2002	2002	2002	2005	-
Constructible Habitat	2005	2006	2007	2008	2011
Eight Crew	2006	2007	2007	2009	-
Lunar Oxygen Use	2010	2005	2005	2013	-
Lunar Farside Sortie	2012	2008	2008	2015	2022
Lunar Steady State Mode	2012	2008	2012	2015	-

Mars Emplacement	2015-2019	2010-2015	2015-2019	2017-2022	2024-
Mars Consolidation	2020-2022	2015-2018	2020-2022	2022-	-
Mars Operation	2022-	2018-	2022-	-	-
Humans on Mars	2016	2011	2016	2018	2016
Extended Mars Stay	2018	2014	2018	2023	2027