NASA's new space exploration plans seek to return humans to the moon by 2020, and eventually take them to Mars.
For the first time since the Apollo era, a new human-rated rocket and crewed capsule are being designed. The Ares I rocket and the Orion crew exploration vehicle capsule will be joined by a reusable lunar lander and a pressurized rover for transport over the moon’s surface.
As part of a new global exploration strategy, the return to the moon will begin with a lunar outpost at the south pole by 2024, where sunlight for power generation is more plentiful and where volatile gases may be available for nuclear power.
The outpost, planned to serve as a departure point for future human Mars missions, may also provide hydrogen and oxygen, components of fuel for those missions.
Image: Stennis Space Center staff pose in a celebration outline in honour of NASA's 50th anniversary.
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