B3.1 Innovative Partnerships in Human Space Exploration
Symposium: B3. IAF HUMAN SPACEFLIGHT SYMPOSIUM
Session: 1 – Governmental Human Spaceflight Programmes (Overview)
As the International Space Station (ISS) approaches its 20th consecutive year of human habitation in low-Earth orbit (LEO), NASA is embarking upon a broad and expansive plan of exploration of the solar system. Building on the demonstrated success and strength of the ISS International Partnership, NASA intends to build a coalition of existing international partners, new international partners, and a robust collection of new and proven commercial partners to expand human presence to the Moon and on to Mars. Beginning on the ISS, NASA will continue to lead a coalition of partner space agencies and partner companies to develop a thriving economy in LEO that will allow the world to access a variety of platforms for a variety of scientific, commercial, and industrial purposes. As befits a new and innovative approach to LEO, NASA is exploring new and innovative ways to partner with other entities through nontraditional procurement and contracting means. These approaches will be taken on to the Moon, where NASA is already working with commercial companies to develop privately-owned robotic landers that will carry NASA scientific payloads. NASA’s Artemis Program, which will return humans to the surface of the Moon for the first time in more than five decades, will also be a team made of up international and commercial partners. Just like the ISS International Partnership, these lunar collaborations will be essential for the success of the mission as a whole. While the Apollo landings were carried out in an era of international competition, the future of exploration lies in a spirit of cooperation, for and with all of humankind.
