Lunar and Mars Missions, Challenges for Advanced Life Support 880988

NASA's Office of Exploration currently is studying a range of initiative options that would extend the sphere of human activity in space to Mars, and includes permanent bases or outposts on the Moon and Mars. These missions are challenging in many technology areas, not the least of which is life support, where the requirements for long term, remote operations, with long supply lines, place major demands on life support systems for safety, reliability and performance. The scenarios being developed by the Office of Exploration will serve as guides to the selection of a new exploration initiative for NASA. In the current phase of the process, it is important to explore some of the critical elements, such as the advanced life support area, to determine whether the proposed missions can be accomodated with current knowledge, or whether additional technological advances are necessary.