Space Travels to Mars: A New Opportunity for Private Space Companies

Abstract

This article examines the evolution of American space travel from a public-dominated approach to an emerging commercial network model, and asserts the importance of adopting this public-private approach for manned missions to Mars. The Global Exploration Roadmap (GER), a coordinated international framework to advance human exploration of the solar system, expresses the need for an evolution of critical capabilities which are necessary for executing increasingly complex missions to multiple destinations, culminating with Mars. As a result, the GER can serve as a stable foundation for the confidence the commercial space industry seeks before dedicating its resources to sustaining a human presence in space. By facilitating these private efforts, NASA not only drives the development of efficient methods to sustain the human footprint in space but also legitimizes private space companies as important stakeholders on the global journey to extend humanity's reach. Through its innovative technologies, the private sector will "advance the readiness of partners for Mars surface missions," by sustaining an advanced presence on the ISS and the Moon that enables the generation of knowledge to support missions into deep space.