Lunar characteristics and needs¶
Summary. Characteristics and needs (C&Ns) are the first step of NASA's objective decomposition: "statements that drive architecture capability necessary to satisfy the Moon to Mars objectives, and identify a problem to be solved, but are not solutions" (ADD Rev C, p. 17). The only published list of lunar C&Ns the wiki holds is in NASA's 2024 Lunar Objective Mapping Tables: 133 C&Ns, each tied to the objectives it serves and the use cases under it (2024 lunar table). This page gives all 133 in NASA's wording. They are 2024 context. The December 2025 workbook's key lists C&N sheets that the file doesn't contain, and ADD Rev C prints no C&N, although it says its tables trace "from objectives through characteristics and needs to use case and functions" (p. 109). Whether the 2024 list is still current isn't stated anywhere (open question 42).
The Mars list is on Mars characteristics and needs. The method is on Objective decomposition.
What a characteristic or need is¶
- NASA's definition (ADD Rev C, p. 17): "Features to satisfy the goals and objectives; statements that drive architecture capability necessary to satisfy the Moon to Mars objectives, and identify a problem to be solved, but are not solutions."
- Their place in the process (p. 17): "The first step in this process is to define the characteristics and needs required to satisfy an objective or a group of objectives." NASA defines them "in a form that is still neutral to architectural implementation", and then "decomposes them into specific implementable functions and use cases".
- In 2023: "Characteristics and needs are the features and capabilities that the architecture must supply to accomplish the objectives" (Strategy and Objectives Development, PDF p. 34).
So a C&N sits between an objective and the use cases: it says what the architecture must be able to do for the objective, without saying how.
How this page is built¶
- Source: the 2024 lunar table, files
c-ns.csv(IDs and wording),c-ns-to-objectives.csv(objectives) anduse-cases-to-c-ns.csv(use cases); row = the C&N ID. - Wording is NASA's as printed, including missing final periods and slips ("to recovery of", "variety or products").
- Objectives are given by code; their wording is on Lunar objectives. "HBS-01 LM to HBS-03 LM" means all three.
- Use cases are given by ID; titles are on Lunar use cases. All 162 IDs here are still in the December 2025 list, some with reworded titles (2024 lunar table). "none" means the sheet reads "BLANK".
- Counts are the wiki's, made from the three files and checked against their row totals (133 C&Ns, 240 objective links, 264 use-case links).
- Letters. The letter in a C&N ID follows the key's sub-architecture letters, as for use cases and functions (2024 lunar table). C&N numbers are their own: CN-T-108 L is not UC-T-108 L.
At a glance¶
| Letter | C&Ns | With no use case | Objective links | Use-case links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| T Transportation | 28 | 4 | 72 | 61 |
| G Infrastructure Support | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| H Habitation | 9 | 2 | 22 | 25 |
| X Human Systems | 6 | 2 | 9 | 8 |
| P Power | 3 | 0 | 3 | 6 |
| M Mobility | 7 | 0 | 7 | 16 |
| C Communications and PNT | 9 | 0 | 13 | 19 |
| D Data Systems and Management | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| A Autonomous Systems and Robotics | 12 | 4 | 14 | 24 |
| I ISRU | 8 | 0 | 9 | 15 |
| U Utilization | 47 | 2 | 86 | 88 |
| Total | 133 | 17 | 240 | 264 |
What the lists show (the wiki's reading, from the tables below):
- Every objective has at least one C&N, and every C&N at least one objective. All 53 objectives,
AS-02 LM included, and all 133 C&Ns appear in
c-ns-to-objectives.csv. - Every use case sits under at least one C&N. All 162 use-case IDs appear in
use-cases-to-c-ns.csv(the wiki's check). - C&Ns cross goals. A C&N's letter doesn't follow its objectives' goal. The science objectives are served mostly by transport and sample C&Ns. CN-T-302 L, unconditioned sample return, serves eleven objectives, the most of any. CN-T-304 L (frozen samples) and CN-U-303 L (shallow samples away from PSRs) serve eight each, and CN-T-108 L (visiting diverse sites) seven.
- 11 C&Ns end in LM (CN-T-402, X-101, X-201, M-101, A-101, A-401, A-402, I-102, I-103, U-601, U-602). Most begin "Operate and gain experience" or "Demonstrate"; CN-X-101 LM ends "preparatory of a mission to Mars". Eight of them have Mars twins with the same number and wording (Mars characteristics and needs).
- The 2025 links collapse this layer. For six lunar objectives checked (AS-03, HBS-01, LI-06, OP-09, SE-04, TH-02), the use cases the December 2025 sheet maps to the objective are exactly the use cases under its 2024 C&Ns (2024 lunar table). The rest weren't checked, and no source says this is how the 2025 links were made.
Characteristics and needs with no use case¶
17 C&Ns read "BLANK" for their use cases:
| C&N | Objectives |
|---|---|
| CN-T-101 L, CN-T-102 L, CN-T-104 L (stable and robust transportation; routine access to cislunar space) | TH-01 L |
| CN-T-103 L (routine access to the lunar surface) | TH-01 L, TH-02 L |
| CN-G-201 L (curation facilities on Earth) | SE-03 LM, SE-04 LM |
| CN-H-108 L, CN-H-109 L (stable and robust habitation) | TH-03 L |
| CN-X-103 L (crew survival) | TH-08 LM, OP-07 LM |
| CN-X-203 L (training Earth-based scientists) | SE-02 LM |
| CN-D-101 L, CN-D-102 L (network integration; common data interfaces) | OP-04 LM |
| CN-A-103 L, CN-A-104 L, CN-A-201 L (operating robots on the surface and in cislunar space; crew control of robots) | OP-09 LM |
| CN-A-301 L (safe crew–robot interaction) | OP-09 LM, OP-10 LM |
| CN-U-801 L (coordinating payload delivery and deployment) | SE-06 LM, AS-02 LM |
| CN-U-805 L (minimizing environmental impacts) | SE-07 LM |
Two objectives have no C&N with a use case, so in 2024 no lunar use case serves them:
- AS-02 LM, "Coordinate on-going and future science measurements …": its one C&N is CN-U-801 L. The December 2025 lunar sheet leaves AS-02 LM out altogether (Lunar objectives).
- OP-10 LM, operating robots "autonomously or remotely": its one C&N is CN-A-301 L. The 2025 FE+ sheet keeps OP-10 LM with "BLANK" for its use cases (Lunar objectives).
That both outcomes follow from the 2024 C&Ns is the wiki's reading. Neither workbook nor the ADD gives a reason (open question 62).
T Transportation¶
| C&N | Characteristic or need (NASA's wording) | Objectives | Use cases |
|---|---|---|---|
| CN-T-101 L | Implement stable transportation capabilities, which minimize required upgrades over time, to support lunar missions. | TH-01 L | none |
| CN-T-102 L | Implement robust transportation capabilities, where systems can perform a variety of design reference missions, to support lunar missions. | TH-01 L | none |
| CN-T-103 L | Enable routine access to the lunar surface. | TH-01 L, TH-02 L | none |
| CN-T-104 L | Enable routine access to cislunar space. | TH-01 L | none |
| CN-T-105 L | Provide capabilities to transport crew from Earth to cislunar space. | TH-01 L | UC-T-101 L |
| CN-T-106 L | Provide capabilities to transport crew between stable lunar orbit, including NRHO, and the lunar surface. | TH-01 L | UC-T-102 L, UC-T-104 L, UC-T-401 L, UC-U-101 L |
| CN-T-107 L | Provide capabilities to visit geographically diverse sites on the lunar surface, including the south polar region, and non-polar destinations. | SE-04 LM | UC-T-105 L, UC-T-106 L, UC-A-106 L, UC-U-102 L, UC-U-105 L, UC-U-106 L |
| CN-T-108 L | Visit diverse sites of key scientific interest on the lunar surface, including polar and non-polar destinations to address high priority science goals. | LPS-01 LM to LPS-03 LM, HS-02 LM, SE-04 LM, AS-03 LM, OP-03 LM | UC-T-105 L, UC-T-106 L |
| CN-T-109 L | Demonstrate the capability for crew to access surface assets at different potential locations distributed across the lunar globe. | LI-06 L | UC-T-105 L, UC-T-106 L, UC-T-401 L |
| CN-T-110 L | Provide capabilities to enable staging and/or assembly operations of crew and cargo system(s) in cislunar space with accessibility to both Earth and the lunar surface, including the lunar South Polar region. | TH-01 L, TH-04 LM | UC-T-102 L, UC-T-103 L |
| CN-T-111 L | Transition crew from partial gravity environment to micro-gravity environment. | HBS-01 LM to HBS-03 LM, OP-06 L | UC-T-104 L |
| CN-T-112 L | Transition crew from micro-gravity environment to partial gravity environment, following a duration in space | HBS-01 LM to HBS-03 LM, OP-01 L, OP-06 L | UC-T-104 L |
| CN-T-113 L | Provide capabilities to operate crew transportation system(s) in uncrewed mode for mid-durations (month+) to extended-durations (year+) in cislunar space and on the lunar surface. | TH-01 L | UC-A-401 L, UC-A-402 L |
| CN-T-114 L | Provide capabilities to safely return crew and system(s) to Earth from lunar surface and cislunar space. | TH-01 L | UC-T-102 L, UC-T-107 L, UC-T-108 L |
| CN-T-201 L | Provide capabilities to deliver system(s) from Earth to the lunar surface. | TH-02 L | UC-T-201 L, UC-T-202 L |
| CN-T-202 L | Provide capabilities to return cargo from the lunar surface back to cislunar space. | TH-11 L | UC-T-204 L |
| CN-T-301 L | Provide capabilities to return cargo from cislunar space back to Earth-based facilities. | TH-11 L | UC-T-203 L |
| CN-T-302 L | Transfer, return, and curate a small amount (10s of kg) or a large amount (100s of kg) of unconditioned samples and containers from key destinations across the lunar surface and back to Earth, while maintaining scientific integrity of the samples. | LPS-01 LM, LPS-02 LM, HS-02 LM, HS-03 LM, HBS-01 LM to HBS-03 LM, SE-04 LM, AS-03 LM, TH-11 L, OP-03 LM | UC-T-301 L, UC-T-302 L, UC-G-202 L |
| CN-T-303 L | Transfer, return and curate a small amount (10s of kg) or a large amount (100s of kg) of refrigerated sample(s), containers, and freezers from key destinations across the lunar surface to Earth while maintaining scientific integrity of the samples. | HBS-01 LM to HBS-03 LM, TH-11 L | UC-T-303 L, UC-T-304 L, UC-G-201 L |
| CN-T-304 L | Transfer, return and curate a small amount (10s of kg) or a large amount (100s of kg) of frozen sample(s), containers, and freezers from key destinations across the lunar surface to Earth while maintaining scientific integrity of the samples. | LPS-03 LM, HBS-01 LM to HBS-03 LM, SE-04 LM, AS-03 LM, TH-11 L, OP-03 LM | UC-T-305 L, UC-T-306 L, UC-G-201 L |
| CN-T-305 L | Transfer, return, and curate a large amount (100s of kg) of cryogenic samples, containers, and freezers from key destinations across the lunar surface back to Earth while maintaining scientific integrity of the samples. | LPS-03 LM, SE-03 LM, SE-04 LM, TH-11 L | UC-T-307 L, UC-G-201 L |
| CN-T-306 L | Transfer, return, and curate a small amount (10s of kg) of unconditioned samples, containers, and freezers from key destinations across the lunar surface back to Earth while maintaining scientific integrity of the samples. | PPS-02 LM | UC-T-301 L, UC-G-202 L |
| CN-T-307 L | Transfer, return and curate a small amount (10s of kg) or a large amount (100s of kg) of unconditioned sample(s) and containers from cislunar assets back to Earth while maintaining scientific integrity of the samples. | HBS-01 LM to HBS-03 LM | UC-T-308 L, UC-T-309 L, UC-G-202 L |
| CN-T-308 L | Transfer, return and curate a small amount (10s of kg) or a large amount (100s of kg) of refrigerated sample(s) and containers from cislunar assets back to Earth while maintaining scientific integrity of the samples. | HBS-01 LM to HBS-03 LM | UC-T-310 L, UC-T-311 L, UC-G-201 L |
| CN-T-309 L | Transfer, return and curate a small amount (10s of kg) or a large amount (100s of kg) of frozen sample(s) and containers from cislunar assets back to Earth while maintaining scientific integrity of the samples. | HBS-01 LM to HBS-03 LM | UC-T-312 L, UC-T-313 L, UC-G-201 L |
| CN-T-310 L | Transfer, return and curate a small amount (10s of kg) of unconditioned sample(s) and containers from cislunar assets back to Earth while maintaining scientific integrity of the samples. | PPS-02 LM | UC-T-308 L, UC-G-202 L |
| CN-T-401 L | Demonstrate the capability for lunar landers to reliably and safely land within a defined radius around an intended location. | LI-05 L | UC-T-201 L, UC-T-202 L, UC-T-401 L, UC-T-402 L, UC-C-202 L, UC-C-204 L, UC-C-206 L |
| CN-T-402 LM | Operate and gain experience with flight control and mission integration to ensure safety and mission success in nominal and off-nominal conditions. | OP-02 LM | UC-T-501 L |
G Infrastructure Support¶
| C&N | Characteristic or need (NASA's wording) | Objectives | Use cases |
|---|---|---|---|
| CN-G-201 L | Provide curation or other appropriate facilities on Earth equipped for preserving acquired samples in their pristine state. | SE-03 LM, SE-04 LM | none |
H Habitation¶
| C&N | Characteristic or need (NASA's wording) | Objectives | Use cases |
|---|---|---|---|
| CN-H-101 L | Conduct short-duration (days to weeks) to mid-duration (month+) crew exploration mission(s) on the lunar surface. | HBS-01 LM to HBS-03 LM, OP-01 L, OP-06 L | UC-H-101 L, UC-H-102 L, UC-H-105 L, UC-L-201 L |
| CN-H-102 L | Conduct short-duration (days to weeks), mid-duration (month+), and extended-duration (year+) crew exploration mission(s) in cislunar space | HBS-01 LM to HBS-03 LM, OP-01 L, OP-06 L | UC-H-101 L, UC-H-103 L, UC-H-104 L, UC-H-106 L, UC-L-202 L |
| CN-H-103 L | Conduct crewed and uncrewed testing of surface habitable system(s). | OP-01 L, OP-07 LM | UC-H-201 L |
| CN-H-104 L | Conduct crewed and uncrewed testing of in-space habitable system(s). | OP-01 L, OP-07 LM | UC-H-202 L |
| CN-H-105 L | Provide capabilities to conduct short-duration (days to weeks) crew exploration mission(s) on the lunar surface. | TH-03 L, TH-04 LM | UC-H-101 L, UC-H-105 L, UC-L-201 L |
| CN-H-106 L | Provide capabilities to conduct mid-duration (month+) crew exploration mission(s) on the lunar surface. | TH-03 L, TH-04 LM | UC-H-102 L, UC-H-105 L, UC-L-201 L, UC-P-101 L, UC-P-102 L, UC-P-301 L, UC-P-302 L |
| CN-H-107 L | Provide capabilities to conduct moderate durations (months) to extended-duration (year+) crew exploration mission(s) in cislunar and deep space. | TH-03 L, TH-04 LM | UC-H-103 L, UC-H-104 L, UC-H-106 L, UC-L-202 L |
| CN-H-108 L | Implement stable habitation capabilities, which minimize required upgrades over time, to support lunar missions. | TH-03 L | none |
| CN-H-109 L | Implement robust habitation capabilities, where systems can support all design reference missions, to support lunar missions. | TH-03 L | none |
X Human Systems¶
| C&N | Characteristic or need (NASA's wording) | Objectives | Use cases |
|---|---|---|---|
| CN-X-101 LM | Provide appropriate medical capabilities (including behavioral health) that allow for autonomous crew health decision making and care, and are preparatory of a mission to Mars. | TH-08 LM, OP-07 LM | UC-X-101 L, UC-X-102 L |
| CN-X-102 L | Provide countermeasures capabilities that are commensurate in scope with the human system needs for the mission. | TH-08 LM, OP-07 LM | UC-X-103 L, UC-X-104 L |
| CN-X-103 L | Demonstrate crew survival capabilities in cislunar space and on the lunar surface, including safe havens, system supportability, and/or aborts, for nominal and off-nominal scenarios to prepare for future Mars missions. | TH-08 LM, OP-07 LM | none |
| CN-X-201 LM | Operate and gain experience with in-situ training and planning capabilities to ensure safety and mission success. | OP-02 LM | UC-X-201 L, UC-X-202 L |
| CN-X-202 L | Train astronauts to be field scientists and to perform additional science tasks during crewed missions, through integrated geology, field and EVA ops and classroom training. | SE-01 LM | UC-G-301 L, UC-X-203 L |
| CN-X-203 L | Train Earth-based scientists to support crew activities in real time. | SE-02 LM | none |
P Power¶
| C&N | Characteristic or need (NASA's wording) | Objectives | Use cases |
|---|---|---|---|
| CN-P-101 L | Provide scalable power generation, energy storage, and power distribution system(s) on the lunar surface to support large exploration assets. | LI-01 L | UC-P-101 L, UC-P-301 L |
| CN-P-102 L | Provide scalable power generation, energy storage, and power distribution system(s) on the lunar surface to allow power utilization to support assets at multiple distributed locations around exploration sites. | LI-01 L | UC-P-102 L, UC-P-302 L |
| CN-P-103 L | Provide power generation, energy storage, and power distribution system(s) on the lunar surface that are able to supply continuous power availability during crew safety critical mission operation and are able to support contingency operations. | LI-01 L | UC-P-501 L, UC-P-502 L |
M Mobility¶
| C&N | Characteristic or need (NASA's wording) | Objectives | Use cases |
|---|---|---|---|
| CN-M-101 LM | Operate and gain experience with capabilities to conduct extravehicular activities utilizing mobility assets and tools. | OP-05 LM | UC-M-101 L, UC-M-103 L |
| CN-M-102 L | Provide capabilities to enable crew transition in/out of habitable space to conduct EVA activities. | TH-03 L | UC-M-101 L, UC-M-102 L |
| CN-M-301 L | Provide mobility capabilities to conduct prospecting traverses with appropriate scientific instrumentation and drill capabilities over sites of interest. | AS-03 LM | UC-M-101 L, UC-M-301 L, UC-M-302 L |
| CN-M-302 L | Demonstrate the capability to allow crew to move locally around landing sites to visit multiple locations of interest. | LI-06 L | UC-M-101 L, UC-M-301 L, UC-M-302 L |
| CN-M-401 L | Provide capabilities to unload cargo from delivery system(s). | TH-02 L | UC-M-401 L, UC-M-402 L |
| CN-M-501 L | Operate and gain experience with capabilities to transport crew and cargo between landing, exploration, and utilization sites at varying distances from assets on the lunar surface. | OP-05 LM | UC-M-301 L, UC-M-302 L |
| CN-M-601 L | Demonstrate the capability to regionally relocate exploration assets. | LI-06 L | UC-M-601 L, UC-M-602 L |
C Communications and PNT¶
| C&N | Characteristic or need (NASA's wording) | Objectives | Use cases |
|---|---|---|---|
| CN-C-101 L | Provide scalable communication system(s) to enable high bandwidth, high availability communications between Earth-based personnel, surface crew, and assets on the surface. | SE-02 LM, LI-02 L | UC-C-101 L, UC-D-101 L |
| CN-C-102 L | Provide scalable communication system(s) to enable high bandwidth, high availability communications between Earth-based personnel, in-space crew, and in-space assets. | SE-02 LM, LI-02 L | UC-C-103 L, UC-D-102 L |
| CN-C-103 L | Provide scalable communication system(s) to enable high bandwidth, high availability communications between In-space personnel, surface crew, and assets on the surface. | LI-02 L | UC-C-104 L, UC-D-101 L, UC-D-102 L |
| CN-C-104 L | Provide communication capabilities to allow NASA to inspire and inform the general public, students, and teachers by enabling them to interact, learn about, and experience missions in a direct and tangible way. | LI-02 L | UC-C-101 L, UC-C-103 L |
| CN-C-105 L | Provide scalable communication system(s) to enable high bandwidth, high availability communications between different crew and assets on the lunar surface. | LI-02 L | UC-C-102 L, UC-D-101 L |
| CN-C-106 L | Provide the ability for the Science Team to directly or indirectly communicate in real-time via either written or verbal means with the crew for EVA and IVA activities. | LPS-01 LM to LPS-03 LM | UC-C-101 L |
| CN-C-201 L | Provide scalable navigation, positioning, and timing system(s) to enable high availability navigation and tracking in cislunar space. | LI-03 L | UC-C-201 L |
| CN-C-202 L | Provide scalable navigation, positioning, and timing system(s) to enable high availability navigation and tracking on the lunar surface. | LI-03 L | UC-C-202 L, UC-C-204 L, UC-C-206 L |
| CN-C-203 L | Provide system(s) to enable accurate location identification, tracking, and documentation of collected surface samples. | LI-03 L | UC-C-203 L, UC-C-205 L, UC-C-207 L |
D Data Systems and Management¶
| C&N | Characteristic or need (NASA's wording) | Objectives | Use cases |
|---|---|---|---|
| CN-D-101 L | Provide capabilities to integrate networks and mission systems to exchange data between Earth-based systems, in-space exploration assets, and surface exploration assets. | OP-04 LM | none |
| CN-D-102 L | Provide capabilities to utilize common data interface(s) for exchanges between Earth-based systems, in-space exploration assets, and surface exploration assets. | OP-04 LM | none |
| CN-D-103 L | Provide capabilities to store and protect data on exploration assets. | OP-04 LM | UC-D-101 L, UC-D-102 L |
A Autonomous Systems and Robotics¶
| C&N | Characteristic or need (NASA's wording) | Objectives | Use cases |
|---|---|---|---|
| CN-A-101 LM | Demonstrate technologies for support systems needed for continuous human/robotic presence including mobility repair and outfitting facilities, logistics facilities, and recycling plants. | LI-09 L | UC-L-201 L, UC-U-726 L |
| CN-A-102 L | Provide appropriate robotic system(s) that can conduct or assist in tasks that would otherwise be performed by the crew alone on the lunar surface. | TH-09 L, OP-09 LM | UC-A-101 L, UC-A-104 L, UC-A-106 L, UC-U-102 L, UC-U-105 L, UC-U-106 L |
| CN-A-103 L | Demonstrate the capabilities to operate appropriate robotic system(s) that can conduct or assist in tasks that would otherwise be performed by the crew alone on the lunar surface. | OP-09 LM | none |
| CN-A-104 L | Demonstrate the capabilities to operate appropriate robotic system(s) that can conduct or assist in tasks that would otherwise be performed by the crew alone in cislunar space. | OP-09 LM | none |
| CN-A-105 L | Conduct robotic surveys of potential landing sites, including video and in situ measurements. | SE-05 LM | UC-A-106 L, UC-U-102 L, UC-U-105 L, UC-U-106 L |
| CN-A-106 L | Provide appropriate robotic tools to support acquisition of samples, including dust, soil, pebbles, hand-sized rock samples, and drill cores, manufactured in accordance with science requirements to minimize sample contamination. | SE-05 LM | UC-A-101 L, UC-A-104 L, UC-A-201 L |
| CN-A-107 L | Provide appropriate robotic system(s) that can conduct or assist in tasks that would otherwise be performed by the crew alone in cislunar or deep space. | TH-09 L | UC-A-107 L, UC-A-202 L |
| CN-A-108 L | Minimize crew time required for inspection, commissioning, maintenance, and logistics operations to maximize crew time available for science and exploration activities. | OP-09 LM | UC-A-102 L, UC-A-103 L, UC-A-105 L |
| CN-A-201 L | Demonstrate capabilities to allow in-space and surface crew to control and command robotic system(s). | OP-09 LM | none |
| CN-A-301 L | Demonstrate the capability for safe and effective interactions between crew and automated/autonomous system(s). | OP-09 LM, OP-10 LM | none |
| CN-A-401 LM | Operate and gain experience with onboard autonomous system(s) and crew autonomy to train, plan, and execute safe mission(s) with reduced reliance on Earth based systems. | OP-02 LM | UC-X-201 L, UC-X-202 L, UC-A-301 L |
| CN-A-402 LM | Operate and gain experience with remote & autonomous system(s) to reduce crew workload. | OP-02 LM | UC-A-301 L |
I ISRU¶
| C&N | Characteristic or need (NASA's wording) | Objectives | Use cases |
|---|---|---|---|
| CN-I-101 L | Demonstrate the capabilities to recovery of excess fluids and gases and separation of products, including propellant residuals, from lunar landers. | OP-12 LM | UC-U-728 L |
| CN-I-102 LM | Deploy scalable demonstration ISRU exploration asset(s) on the lunar surface. | LI-07 L | UC-I-101 L |
| CN-I-103 LM | Operate demonstration exploration asset(s) on the lunar surface to collect, produce, store, and transfer commodities, including water, oxygen, and/or construction feedstock, for potential use. | LI-07 L, OP-11 LM | UC-I-102 L to UC-I-106 L |
| CN-I-201 L | Deploy and operate autonomous construction demonstration asset(s) to the lunar surface, including partial-scale demonstrations of regolith manipulation and construction of structures, to demonstrate scalable capabilities and applications. | LI-04 L | UC-I-201 L |
| CN-I-202 L | Deploy and operate advanced manufacturing demonstration asset(s) to the lunar surface, including scaled demonstration of additive/subtractive/joining manufacturing techniques and inspection/certification processes, to demonstrate scalable capabilities and applications to create a wide variety or products with metallic/polymer/composites materials. | LI-04 L | UC-I-204 L |
| CN-I-203 L | Deploy and operate autonomous demonstration construction exploration asset(s) that are reliant on surface-borne feedstock to demonstrate scalable capabilities and applications, such as additive manufacturing and autonomous construction of structures. | LI-08 L | UC-I-202 L, UC-I-203 L |
| CN-I-204 L | Demonstrate the capability to use surface-borne resources for potential construction and/or manufacturing on the lunar surface. | OP-11 LM | UC-I-202 L, UC-I-203 L |
| CN-I-205 L | Demonstrate the capabilities to use surface-borne commodities to support exploration assets on the lunar surface. | OP-11 LM | UC-I-104 L, UC-I-105 L |
U Utilization¶
| C&N | Characteristic or need (NASA's wording) | Objectives | Use cases |
|---|---|---|---|
| CN-U-101 L | Demonstrate the capability to identify and locate potential site(s) for resource utilization. | LI-07 L, OP-03 LM | UC-A-106 L, UC-U-102 L, UC-U-105 L, UC-U-106 L |
| CN-U-102 L | Provide system(s) to monitor cislunar space and lunar surface natural environments, including space weather, meteoroids, cosmic weather, thermal conditions, and plasma environments, and provide early warnings to in-space and surface assets and crew. | AS-01 LM, LI-09 L | UC-U-719 L, UC-U-721 L |
| CN-U-103 L | Provide system(s) to monitor cislunar space and lunar surface induced environments, including radiation, thermal conditions, dust, high-energy debris, contamination, electrostatics, and acoustics, and provide early warnings to in-space and surface assets and crew. | LI-09 L | UC-U-720 L, UC-U-722 L |
| CN-U-104 L | Provide appropriate environmental monitoring capabilities that enables inflight crew health decision making and mitigation of relevant system/vehicle hazards. | TH-08 LM | UC-U-719 L, UC-U-721 L |
| CN-U-105 L | Demonstrate the capabilities to locate, access, and reuse surface assets from previous crewed and uncrewed missions. | OP-08 LM | UC-U-727 L |
| CN-U-201 L | Provide intravehicular activity accommodations (e.g., instruments, racks, stowage, power) on the lunar surface during crewed and uncrewed mission phases to enable biological science analysis and human research. | HBS-01 LM to HBS-03 LM | UC-U-201 L, UC-U-602 L |
| CN-U-202 L | Provide intravehicular activity accommodations (e.g., instruments, racks, stowage, power) in cislunar space to enable biological science analysis and human research. | HBS-01 LM to HBS-03 LM | UC-U-601 L |
| CN-U-203 L | Provide intravehicular activity accommodations (e.g., instruments, racks, stowage, power) on the lunar surface to enable fundamental physics experiments. | PPS-02 LM | UC-U-712 L |
| CN-U-204 L | Provide intravehicular activity accommodations (e.g., instruments, racks, stowage, power) in cislunar space to enable fundamental physics experiments. | PPS-02 LM | UC-U-713 L |
| CN-U-205 L | Provide intravehicular utilization accommodation and resources during crew transit between Earth and cislunar space to enable biological science analysis and human research. | HBS-01 LM to HBS-03 LM | UC-U-603 L |
| CN-U-206 L | Provide intravehicular utilization accommodation and resources during crew transit between Earth and cislunar space to enable fundamental physics experiments. | PPS-02 LM | UC-U-714 L |
| CN-U-301 L | Identify, collect, and document deep subsurface samples from key destinations in non-PSRs and other sunlit areas on the lunar surface, while maintaining scientific integrity of the samples. | LPS-03 LM, HS-02 LM, AS-03 LM, OP-03 LM | UC-M-301 L, UC-U-102 L, UC-U-103 L, UC-U-302 L, UC-U-307 L, UC-U-308 L |
| CN-U-302 L | Identify, collect, and document deep-surface samples from key destinations in PSRs on the lunar surface, while maintaining scientific integrity of the samples. | LPS-03 LM, SE-03 LM, SE-04 LM, AS-03 LM, OP-03 LM | UC-M-303 L, UC-A-106 L, UC-U-104 L to UC-U-108 L, UC-U-304 L |
| CN-U-303 L | Identify, collect, and document surface and shallow subsurface samples from key destinations in non-PSRs and other sunlit areas on the lunar surface, while maintaining scientific integrity of the samples. | LPS-01 LM to LPS-03 LM, HS-02 LM, HS-03 LM, SE-04 LM, AS-03 LM, OP-03 LM | UC-M-301 L, UC-U-102 L, UC-U-103 L, UC-U-105 L to UC-U-108 L, UC-U-301 L, UC-U-305 L, UC-U-306 L |
| CN-U-304 L | Identify, collect, and document surface and shallow subsurface samples from key destinations in PSRs on the lunar surface, while maintaining scientific integrity of the samples. | LPS-03 LM, SE-04 LM, AS-03 LM, OP-03 LM | UC-M-303 L, UC-A-106 L, UC-U-104 L, UC-U-303 L |
| CN-U-501 L | Demonstrate the capability to transfer propellant from one spacecraft to another in space (including interfaces for non-cryogenic propellants, cryogenic propellants, power, data, commands, and buffer gases). | LI-08 L | UC-T-103 L, UC-U-502 L |
| CN-U-502 L | Demonstrate the capability to transfer propellant from one asset to another on the lunar surface (including interfaces for non-cryogenic propellants, cryogenic propellants, power, data, commands, and buffer gases). | LI-08 L | UC-U-501 L |
| CN-U-503 L | Demonstrate the capability to store propellant for extended-durations (year+) in space (including cryogenic propellant, leak management, and mass gauging). | LI-08 L | UC-U-503 L |
| CN-U-504 L | Demonstrate the capability to store propellant for extended-durations (year+) on the lunar surface (including cryogenic propellant, leak management, and mass gauging). | LI-08 L | UC-U-504 L |
| CN-U-601 LM | Demonstrate operation of bioregenerative ECLSS sub-systems in LEO and/or deep space. | AS-04 LM | UC-U-723 L, UC-U-724 L |
| CN-U-602 LM | Demonstrate operation of plant based ECLSS sub-systems in LEO and/or deep space. | AS-05 LM | UC-U-725 L |
| CN-U-701 L | Deploy and operate external utilization payload(s) addressing biological science analysis and human research around globally distributed locations on the lunar surface for a minimum of mid-duration (month+) missions. | HBS-01 LM to HBS-03 LM, AS-01 LM | UC-U-719 L, UC-U-720 L |
| CN-U-702 L | Deploy and operate exploration asset(s), related to available resources, at distributed and south polar region sites on the lunar surface. | AS-03 LM, OP-03 LM | UC-U-717 L, UC-U-718 L |
| CN-U-703 L | Deploy and operate utilization payload(s), related to the physical systems and fundamental physics, in cislunar space. | PPS-02 LM, AS-06 LM | UC-U-715 L |
| CN-U-704 L | Deploy and operate utilization payload(s), related to the physical systems and fundamental physics, at areas of key scientific interest on the lunar surface, including polar and non-polar destinations. | PPS-02 LM, AS-06 LM | UC-U-716 L |
| CN-U-705 L | Deploy and operate internal and external utilization payload(s) addressing biological science analysis and human research in cislunar space for mid-duration (month+) to extended-duration (year+) missions. | HBS-01 LM to HBS-03 LM | UC-U-601 L |
| CN-U-706 L | Deploy and operate utilization payload(s), related to in-space weather, at distributed sites on the lunar surface. | HS-01 LM | UC-U-705 L |
| CN-U-707 L | Deploy and operate utilization payload(s) relevant to assessing space weather phenomena, including ability to conduct long looks at the Sun, in a variety of lunar orbits. | HS-01 LM, HS-03 LM | UC-U-203 L, UC-U-707 L |
| CN-U-708 L | Provide capabilities for local data storage and processing to enable Earth-independent space weather forecasting. | HS-01 LM | UC-D-201 L |
| CN-U-709 L | Deploy and operate utilization payloads, related to fundamental plasma processes, in cislunar space. | HS-03 LM, SE-06 LM | UC-U-202 L, UC-U-203 L |
| CN-U-710 L | Deploy and operate utilization payload(s) related to fundamental plasma processes around globally distributed locations on the lunar surface. | HS-03 LM | UC-U-710 L |
| CN-U-711 L | Deploy and operate utilization payload(s), related to the magnetotail and solar wind, in cislunar space, including the ability to conduct long looks at the Sun. | HS-04 LM | UC-U-203 L, UC-U-706 L |
| CN-U-712 L | Deploy and operate utilization payload(s), related to the magnetotail and solar wind, at distributed sites on the lunar surface. | HS-04 LM | UC-U-709 L |
| CN-U-713 L | Deploy and operate utilization payload(s) and equipment, related to understanding impact chronology, at distributed sites on the lunar surface for a minimum of a short-duration (days to weeks). | LPS-01 LM | UC-U-701 L |
| CN-U-714 L | Deploy and operate utilization payload(s) and equipment, related to geologic processes, at distributed sites on the lunar surface, for mid-durations (month+) to long-durations (year+). | LPS-02 LM | UC-U-702 L |
| CN-U-715 L | Deploy and operate utilization payload(s) and equipment, related to Solar System volatiles, at distributed sites on the lunar surface. | LPS-03 LM | UC-U-703 L, UC-U-704 L |
| CN-U-716 L | Deploy and operate astrophysics and fundamental physics utilization payload(s) on the far side of the lunar surface. | PPS-01 L | UC-U-711 L, UC-U-801 L |
| CN-U-717 L | Deploy and operate utilization payload(s) around globally distributed locations on the lunar surface relevant to addressing associated science objectives. | SE-06 LM | UC-U-204 L |
| CN-U-718 L | Deploy and operate utilization payloads that monitor real-time space weather in deep space. | HS-01 LM | UC-U-708 L |
| CN-U-801 L | Coordinate delivery and deployment of utilization payloads in cislunar space and on the lunar surface to address associated science objectives. | SE-06 LM, AS-02 LM | none |
| CN-U-802 L | Limit contamination of PSRs. | SE-07 LM, LI-07 L, OP-12 LM | UC-U-802 L, UC-U-803 L, UC-U-804 L |
| CN-U-803 L | Preserve radio free environment on the far side of the Moon. | SE-07 LM, OP-12 LM | UC-U-801 L |
| CN-U-804 L | Protect sites of historic significance. | SE-07 LM | UC-U-805 L |
| CN-U-805 L | Minimize environmental impacts on the lunar surface to preserve scientific integrity for future exploration. | SE-07 LM | none |
| CN-U-806 L | Demonstrate the capabilities to service and/or upgrade assets. | OP-08 LM | UC-U-726 L |
| CN-U-807 L | Demonstrate the capabilities to recover useful equipment from surface assets, where valuable. | OP-12 LM | UC-U-727 L, UC-U-806 L |
| CN-U-808 L | Implement end-of-life strategies for transportation systems to ensure future viable usage of exploration sites on the lunar surface. | TH-02 L | UC-U-807 L |
Pairings and wording to note¶
Recorded as printed; none is corrected. The observations are the wiki's.
- CN-A-101 LM ("support systems needed for continuous human/robotic presence including mobility repair and outfitting facilities, logistics facilities, and recycling plants") repeats the last clause of LI-08 L ("support systems needed for continuous human/robotic presence"), but serves LI-09 L, environmental monitoring and early warning.
- CN-H-106 L, month-plus crew missions on the surface, has the four power use cases under it (UC-P-101 L, UC-P-102 L, UC-P-301 L, UC-P-302 L), beside the habitation and resupply ones.
- CN-T-401 L, precision landing, has the three PNT use cases UC-C-202 L, UC-C-204 L and UC-C-206 L under it.
- CN-H-102 L, crew missions "in cislunar space", has UC-H-101 L, surface habitation, first among its use cases.
- Durations are worded several ways in one list: "mid-duration (month+)", "moderate durations (months)" (CN-H-107 L), "extended-duration (year+)" and "long-durations (year+)" (CN-U-714 L). The December 2025 use-case and function lists replace "moderate" with "mid" and "extended" with "long" (2024 lunar table).
- Slips: "Demonstrate the capabilities to recovery of" (CN-I-101 L), "a wide variety or products" (CN-I-202 L), "deep-surface samples" (CN-U-302 L, where CN-U-301 L has "deep subsurface"), and no final period on CN-T-112 L and CN-H-102 L.
Related pages¶
Mars characteristics and needs · Lunar objectives · Objectives: the ten goals · Lunar function allocation · Objective decomposition · Lunar use cases · Lunar functions · 2024 lunar table · 2025 lunar decomposition
Sources¶
2024 lunar table, files c-ns.csv,
c-ns-to-objectives.csv and use-cases-to-c-ns.csv ·
ADD Rev C, pp. 17, 109 ·
Strategy and Objectives Development (2023), PDF p. 34 ·
2025 lunar decomposition, key sheet