Lunar objectives and the use cases that serve them¶
Summary. NASA's lunar objective decomposition spreadsheet (December 2025) lists 52 Moon to Mars objectives in NASA's wording and traces each to the lunar use cases that serve it. It does this twice, under the labels "HLR" (39 objectives, 152 objective–use case links) and "FE+" (all 52, 522 links). This page gives every objective, the use cases the HLR sheet maps to it, the ones the FE+ sheet adds, and the data gaps that cite it. The objectives sit under nine of the ADD's ten goals. There is no Mars Infrastructure (MI) objective in the lunar sheet. The wording is NASA's September 2022 Moon to Mars Objectives, word for word, and so are the suffixes: L for lunar, LM for both (below). The eleven objectives the sheet leaves out (ten Mars-only, plus AS-2 LM) are on Objectives.
The goals are on Objectives: the ten goals. Use-case titles are on Lunar use cases. Which functions and assets sit under the use cases is on Lunar function allocation. The spreadsheet itself is described on its source page.
How this page is built¶
- Objective wording is quoted from the "FE+ Use Cases to Objectives" sheet, with spelling and capitals as printed ("surface of the moon", "health & performance"). The HLR sheet gives the same wording for the 39 objectives it has (the wiki's check, by reading both sheets).
- Use cases come from the "HLR Use Cases to Objectives" and "FE+ Use Cases to Objectives" sheets. "FE+ adds" lists the use cases in the FE+ sheet that the HLR sheet doesn't map to the objective. Every HLR objective–use case pair is also in the FE+ sheet (the wiki's check of all 39 HLR objectives), so the full FE+ list is the HLR list plus the FE+ additions.
- "HLR" and "FE+" are the sheet's labels. HLR is the ADD's abbreviation for the Human Lunar Return segment; "FE+" is not defined anywhere, and the wiki doesn't equate it with the Foundational Exploration segment (source page).
- Data gaps are from the data-gaps spreadsheet's Objective column, which names the objective codes itself (data gaps index).
- Counts are the wiki's, made from the sheets by code and ID.
- Citation. All objective wording and use-case lists below are from the lunar decomposition spreadsheet, sheets "HLR Use Cases to Objectives" and "FE+ Use Cases to Objectives", row = the objective code. Data gaps: Data gaps spreadsheet, Objective column.
At a glance¶
| Goal | Objectives (FE+) | Of which in HLR | Objective–use case links, HLR | Links, FE+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LPS Lunar and Planetary Science | 3 | 3 | 16 | 61 |
| HS Heliophysics Science | 4 | 4 | 13 | 43 |
| HBS Human and Biological Science | 3 | 3 | 33 | 87 |
| PPS Physics and Physical Science | 2 | 1 | 3 | 10 |
| SE Science-Enabling | 7 | 5 | 14 | 57 |
| AS Applied Science | 5 | 2 | 10 | 44 |
| LI Lunar Infrastructure | 9 | 8 | 19 | 63 |
| MI Mars Infrastructure | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| TH Transportation and Habitation | 7 | 6 | 24 | 68 |
| OP Operations | 12 | 7 | 20 | 89 |
| Total | 52 | 39 | 152 | 522 |
Notes:
- 13 objectives are in FE+ only: PPS-01 L, SE-03 LM, SE-05 LM, AS-04 LM, AS-05 LM, AS-06 LM, LI-04 L, TH-09 L, OP-04 LM, OP-08 LM, OP-09 LM, OP-10 LM and OP-11 LM.
- OP-10 LM has no use case. Its use-case cells read "BLANK" in the FE+ sheet, so the FE+ total of 523 rows holds 522 links. The Mars decomposition gives OP-10 LM seven Mars use cases, and leaves five others blank that have lunar use cases here: SE-01, SE-02, SE-05, AS-04 and AS-05 (Mars objectives). In the 2024 lunar table OP-10 LM's one characteristic or need, CN-A-301 L, has a "BLANK" use case, so the gap dates from 2024 (Lunar characteristics and needs).
- Characteristics and needs. The layer between these objectives and their use cases is not in this sheet. The 2024 version has it: 133 lunar C&Ns, on Lunar characteristics and needs. For six objectives checked (AS-03, HBS-01, LI-06, OP-09, SE-04, TH-02), the use cases listed here are exactly those under the objective's 2024 C&Ns.
- Most links: AS-03 LM (30 use cases in FE+), HBS-01 LM to HBS-03 LM (29 each), OP-03 LM (28) and LPS-03 LM (27). These are mostly sample collection, sample return, habitation and crew transport use cases. Fewest: AS-05 LM (1) and OP-10 LM (none).
- The use-case lists. The "FE+ Use Cases" sheet holds the same 163 use cases as Lunar use cases; the "HLR Use Cases" sheet's 44 are a subset, and each of the 44 is mapped to at least one HLR objective.
LPS: Lunar and Planetary Science¶
| Code | Objective | HLR | Data gaps |
|---|---|---|---|
| LPS-01 LM | "Uncover the record of solar system origin and early history, by determining how and when planetary bodies formed and differentiated, characterizing the impact chronology of the inner solar system as recorded on the Moon and Mars, and characterize how impact rates in the inner solar system have changed over time as recorded on the Moon and Mars." | yes | DN-001 L, DN-010 L |
| LPS-02 LM | "Advance understanding of the geologic processes that affect planetary bodies by determining the interior structures, characterizing the magmatic histories, characterizing ancient, modern, and evolution of atmospheres/exospheres, and investigating how active processes modify the surfaces of the Moon and Mars." | yes | |
| LPS-03 LM | "Reveal inner solar system volatile origin and delivery processes by determining the age, origin, distribution, abundance, composition, transport, and sequestration of lunar and Martian volatiles." | yes | DN-013 L |
| Code | HLR use cases | FE+ adds |
|---|---|---|
| LPS-01 LM | (6) UC-T-105 L, UC-T-301 L, UC-G-202 L, UC-C-101 L, UC-U-103 L, UC-U-301 L | (11) UC-T-106 L, UC-T-302 L, UC-M-301 L, UC-U-102 L, UC-U-105 L, UC-U-106 L, UC-U-107 L, UC-U-108 L, UC-U-305 L, UC-U-306 L, UC-U-701 L |
| LPS-02 LM | (6) the same six as LPS-01 LM | (11) as LPS-01 LM, but UC-U-702 L in place of UC-U-701 L |
| LPS-03 LM | (4) UC-T-105 L, UC-C-101 L, UC-U-103 L, UC-U-301 L | (23) UC-T-106 L, UC-T-305 L, UC-T-306 L, UC-T-307 L, UC-G-201 L, UC-M-301 L, UC-M-303 L, UC-A-106 L, UC-U-102 L, UC-U-104 L, UC-U-105 L, UC-U-106 L, UC-U-107 L, UC-U-108 L, UC-U-302 L to UC-U-308 L, UC-U-703 L, UC-U-704 L |
Among the FE+ additions for LPS-03 LM are use cases in permanently shadowed regions (UC-M-303 L, UC-A-106 L, UC-U-104 L, UC-U-303 L, UC-U-304 L) and the return of frozen and cryogenic samples (UC-T-305 L to UC-T-307 L) (titles on Lunar use cases).
HS: Heliophysics Science¶
| Code | Objective | HLR | Data gaps |
|---|---|---|---|
| HS-01 LM | "Improve understanding of space weather phenomena to enable enhanced observation and prediction of the dynamic environment from space to the surface at the Moon and Mars." | yes | DN-012 L |
| HS-02 LM | "Determine the history of the Sun and solar system as recorded in the lunar and Martian regolith." | yes | |
| HS-03 LM | "Investigate and characterize fundamental plasma processes, including dust-plasma interactions, using the cislunar, near-Mars, and surface environments as laboratories." | yes | DN-011 L |
| HS-04 LM | "Improve understanding of magnetotail and pristine solar wind dynamics in the vicinity of the Moon and around Mars." | yes |
| Code | HLR use cases | FE+ adds |
|---|---|---|
| HS-01 LM | (1) UC-U-203 L | (4) UC-D-201 L, UC-U-705 L, UC-U-707 L, UC-U-708 L |
| HS-02 LM | (5) UC-T-105 L, UC-T-301 L, UC-G-202 L, UC-U-103 L, UC-U-301 L | (13) UC-T-106 L, UC-T-302 L, UC-M-301 L, UC-U-102 L, UC-U-105 L, UC-U-106 L, UC-U-107 L, UC-U-108 L, UC-U-302 L, UC-U-305 L, UC-U-306 L, UC-U-307 L, UC-U-308 L |
| HS-03 LM | (6) UC-T-301 L, UC-G-202 L, UC-U-103 L, UC-U-202 L, UC-U-203 L, UC-U-301 L | (11) UC-T-302 L, UC-M-301 L, UC-U-102 L, UC-U-105 L, UC-U-106 L, UC-U-107 L, UC-U-108 L, UC-U-305 L, UC-U-306 L, UC-U-707 L, UC-U-710 L |
| HS-04 LM | (1) UC-U-203 L | (2) UC-U-706 L, UC-U-709 L |
HBS: Human and Biological Science¶
| Code | Objective | HLR | Data gaps |
|---|---|---|---|
| HBS-01 LM | "Understand the effects of short- and long-duration exposure to the environments of the Moon, Mars, and deep space on biological systems and health, using humans, model organisms, systems of human physiology, and plants." | yes | |
| HBS-02 LM | "Evaluate and validate progressively Earth-independent crew health & performance systems and operations with mission durations representative of Mars-class missions." | yes | |
| HBS-03 LM | "Characterize and evaluate how the interaction of exploration systems and the deep space environment affect human health, performance, and space human factors to inform future exploration-class missions." | yes |
All three objectives have the same use cases, in both sheets:
| Code | HLR use cases | FE+ adds |
|---|---|---|
| HBS-01 LM, HBS-02 LM, HBS-03 LM | (11) UC-T-104 L, UC-T-301 L, UC-T-308 L, UC-G-202 L, UC-H-101 L, UC-H-106 L, UC-L-202 L, UC-U-601 L, UC-U-603 L, UC-U-719 L, UC-U-720 L | (18) UC-T-302 L to UC-T-306 L, UC-T-309 L to UC-T-313 L, UC-G-201 L, UC-H-102 L to UC-H-105 L, UC-L-201 L, UC-U-201 L, UC-U-602 L |
PPS: Physics and Physical Science¶
| Code | Objective | HLR | Data gaps |
|---|---|---|---|
| PPS-01 L | "Conduct astrophysics and fundamental physics investigations of space and time from the radio quiet environment of the lunar far side." | no | |
| PPS-02 LM | "Advance understanding of physical systems and fundamental physics by utilizing the unique environments of the Moon, Mars, and deep space." | yes |
| Code | HLR use cases | FE+ adds |
|---|---|---|
| PPS-01 L | none | (2) UC-U-711 L, UC-U-801 L |
| PPS-02 LM | (3) UC-T-301 L, UC-T-308 L, UC-G-202 L | (5) UC-U-712 L to UC-U-716 L |
SE: Science-Enabling¶
| Code | Objective | HLR | Data gaps |
|---|---|---|---|
| SE-01 LM | "Provide in-depth, mission-specific science training for astronauts to enable crew to perform high-priority or transformational science on the surface of the Moon, and Mars, and in deep space." | yes | |
| SE-02 LM | "Enable Earth-based scientists to remotely support astronaut surface and deep space activities using advanced techniques and tools." | yes | |
| SE-03 LM | "Develop the capability to retrieve core samples of frozen volatiles from permanently shadowed regions on the Moon and volatile-bearing sites on Mars and to deliver them in pristine states to modern curation facilities on Earth." | no | |
| SE-04 LM | "Return representative samples from multiple locations across the surface of the Moon and Mars, with sample mass commensurate with mission-specific science priorities." | yes | |
| SE-05 LM | "Use robotic techniques to survey sites, conduct in-situ measurements, and identify/stockpile samples in advance of and concurrent with astronaut arrival, to optimize astronaut time on the lunar and Martian surface and maximize science return." | no | DN-001 L to DN-005 L, DN-014 L |
| SE-06 LM | "Enable long-term, planet-wide research by delivering science instruments to multiple science-relevant orbits and surface locations at the Moon and Mars." | yes | |
| SE-07 LM | "Preserve and protect representative features of special interest, including lunar permanently shadowed regions and the radio quiet far side as well as Martian recurring slope lineae, to enable future high-priority science investigations." | yes | DN-017 L, DN-018 L, DN-005 M, DN-006 M |
| Code | HLR use cases | FE+ adds |
|---|---|---|
| SE-01 LM | (1) UC-G-301 L | (1) UC-X-203 L |
| SE-02 LM | (2) UC-C-101 L, UC-C-103 L | (2) UC-D-101 L, UC-D-102 L |
| SE-03 LM | none | (10) UC-T-307 L, UC-G-201 L, UC-M-303 L, UC-A-106 L, UC-U-104 L, UC-U-105 L, UC-U-106 L, UC-U-107 L, UC-U-108 L, UC-U-304 L |
| SE-04 LM | (5) UC-T-105 L, UC-T-301 L, UC-G-202 L, UC-U-103 L, UC-U-301 L | (19) UC-T-106 L, UC-T-302 L, UC-T-305 L, UC-T-306 L, UC-T-307 L, UC-G-201 L, UC-M-301 L, UC-M-303 L, UC-A-106 L, UC-U-102 L, UC-U-104 L, UC-U-105 L, UC-U-106 L, UC-U-107 L, UC-U-108 L, UC-U-303 L, UC-U-304 L, UC-U-305 L, UC-U-306 L |
| SE-05 LM | none | (7) UC-A-101 L, UC-A-104 L, UC-A-106 L, UC-A-201 L, UC-U-102 L, UC-U-105 L, UC-U-106 L |
| SE-06 LM | (4) UC-T-105 L, UC-U-202 L, UC-U-203 L, UC-U-204 L | (1) UC-T-106 L |
| SE-07 LM | (2) UC-U-804 L, UC-U-805 L | (3) UC-U-801 L, UC-U-802 L, UC-U-803 L |
SE-05 LM is cited by six lunar data gaps but isn't in the HLR sheet, although the data-gap sheet gives all six gaps the HLR segment (data gaps index). Neither sheet explains this (the wiki's observation).
AS: Applied Science¶
| Code | Objective | HLR | Data gaps |
|---|---|---|---|
| AS-01 LM | "Characterize and monitor the contemporary environments of the lunar and Martian surfaces and orbits, including investigations of micrometeorite flux, atmospheric weather, space weather, space weathering, and dust, to plan, support, and monitor safety of crewed operations in these locations." | yes | DN-003 L, DN-008 L, DN-009 L, DN-011 L, DN-012 L, DN-013 L, DN-015 L, DN-016 L, DN-019 L |
| AS-03 LM | "Characterize accessible lunar and Martian resources, gather scientific research data, and analyze potential reserves to satisfy science and technology objectives and enable In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) on successive missions." | yes | DN-006 L, DN-007 L |
| AS-04 LM | "Conduct applied scientific investigations essential for the development of bioregenerative-based, ecological life support systems." | no | |
| AS-05 LM | "Define crop plant species, including methods for their productive growth, capable of providing sustainable and nutritious food sources for lunar, Deep Space transit, and Mars habitation." | no | |
| AS-06 LM | "Advance understanding of how physical systems and fundamental physical phenomena are affected by partial gravity, microgravity, and general environment of the Moon, Mars, and deep space transit." | no |
There is no AS-02 in the sheet. The 2022 document has AS-2 LM, "Coordinate on-going and future science measurements from orbital and surface platforms to optimize human-led science campaigns on the Moon and Mars" (Moon to Mars Objectives, p. 8). It is the only lunar or both-body objective the sheet leaves out (Objectives). The Mars decomposition has AS-02 LM, but with no use case ("BLANK"), so no use case in either workbook serves it (Mars objectives).
In the 2024 tables: the 2024 lunar table does list AS-02 LM, with one characteristic or need, CN-U-801 L ("Coordinate delivery and deployment of utilization payloads in cislunar space and on the lunar surface to address associated science objectives"), whose use case reads "BLANK". So AS-02 LM had no lunar use case in 2024 either (Lunar characteristics and needs).
| Code | HLR use cases | FE+ adds |
|---|---|---|
| AS-01 LM | (4) UC-U-203 L, UC-U-719 L, UC-U-720 L, UC-U-721 L | (5) UC-D-201 L, UC-U-702 L, UC-U-705 L, UC-U-707 L, UC-U-708 L |
| AS-03 LM | (6) UC-T-105 L, UC-T-301 L, UC-G-202 L, UC-M-101 L, UC-U-103 L, UC-U-301 L | (24) UC-T-106 L, UC-T-302 L, UC-T-305 L, UC-T-306 L, UC-G-201 L, UC-M-301 L, UC-M-302 L, UC-M-303 L, UC-A-106 L, UC-U-102 L, UC-U-104 L, UC-U-105 L, UC-U-106 L, UC-U-107 L, UC-U-108 L, UC-U-302 L to UC-U-308 L, UC-U-717 L, UC-U-718 L |
| AS-04 LM | none | (2) UC-U-723 L, UC-U-724 L |
| AS-05 LM | none | (1) UC-U-725 L |
| AS-06 LM | none | (2) UC-U-715 L, UC-U-716 L |
LI: Lunar Infrastructure¶
| Code | Objective | HLR | Data gaps |
|---|---|---|---|
| LI-01 L | "Develop an incremental lunar power generation and distribution system that is evolvable to support continuous robotic/human operation and is capable of scaling to global power utilization and industrial power levels." | yes | |
| LI-02 L | "Develop a lunar surface, orbital, and Moon-to-Earth communications architecture capable of scaling to support long term science, exploration, and industrial needs." | yes | |
| LI-03 L | "Develop a lunar position, navigation and timing architecture capable of scaling to support long term science, exploration, and industrial needs." | yes | DN-001 L, DN-002 L |
| LI-04 L | "Demonstrate advanced manufacturing and autonomous construction capabilities in support of continuous human lunar presence and a robust lunar economy." | no | |
| LI-05 L | "Demonstrate precision landing capabilities in support of continuous human lunar presence and a robust lunar economy." | yes | DN-017 L, DN-018 L |
| LI-06 L | "Demonstrate local, regional, and global surface transportation and mobility capabilities in support of continuous human lunar presence and a robust lunar economy." | yes | DN-014 L |
| LI-07 L | "Demonstrate industrial scale ISRU capabilities in support of continuous human lunar presence and a robust lunar economy." | yes | DN-006 L to DN-010 L |
| LI-08 L | "Demonstrate technologies supporting cislunar orbital/surface depots, construction and manufacturing maximizing the use of in-situ resources, and support systems needed for continuous human/robotic presence." | yes | DN-008 L, DN-009 L, DN-010 L |
| LI-09 L | "Develop environmental monitoring, situational awareness, and early warning capabilities to support a resilient, continuous human/robotic lunar presence." | yes | DN-012 L, DN-015 L, DN-016 L |
| Code | HLR use cases | FE+ adds |
|---|---|---|
| LI-01 L | (2) UC-P-501 L, UC-P-502 L | (5) UC-G-101 L, UC-P-101 L, UC-P-102 L, UC-P-301 L, UC-P-302 L |
| LI-02 L | (3) UC-C-101 L, UC-C-103 L, UC-C-104 L | (3) UC-C-102 L, UC-D-101 L, UC-D-102 L |
| LI-03 L | (3) UC-C-201 L, UC-C-202 L, UC-C-203 L | (4) UC-C-204 L to UC-C-207 L |
| LI-04 L | none | (2) UC-I-201 L, UC-I-204 L |
| LI-05 L | (2) UC-T-401 L, UC-C-202 L | (5) UC-T-201 L, UC-T-202 L, UC-T-402 L, UC-C-204 L, UC-C-206 L |
| LI-06 L | (3) UC-T-105 L, UC-T-401 L, UC-M-101 L | (5) UC-T-106 L, UC-M-301 L, UC-M-302 L, UC-M-601 L, UC-M-602 L |
| LI-07 L | (1) UC-U-804 L | (12) UC-A-106 L, UC-I-101 L to UC-I-106 L, UC-U-102 L, UC-U-105 L, UC-U-106 L, UC-U-802 L, UC-U-803 L |
| LI-08 L | (1) UC-T-103 L | (6) UC-I-202 L, UC-I-203 L, UC-U-501 L to UC-U-504 L |
| LI-09 L | (4) UC-U-719 L to UC-U-722 L | (2) UC-L-201 L, UC-U-726 L |
As printed: in the HLR sheet, LI-07 L ("industrial scale ISRU") has one use case, "Limitation of the spread of dust raised by lunar surface operations" (UC-U-804 L). The ISRU demonstrations come in with FE+.
TH: Transportation and Habitation¶
| Code | Objective | HLR | Data gaps |
|---|---|---|---|
| TH-01 L | "Develop cislunar systems that crew can routinely operate to and from lunar orbit and the lunar surface for extended durations." | yes | |
| TH-02 L | "Develop system(s) that can routinely deliver a range of elements to the lunar surface." | yes | |
| TH-03 L | "Develop system(s) to allow crew to explore, operate, and live on the lunar surface and in lunar orbit with scalability to continuous presence; conducting scientific and industrial utilization as well as Mars analog activities." | yes | 14 lunar gaps: DN-002 L to DN-004 L, DN-008 L, DN-009 L, DN-011 L to DN-019 L |
| TH-04 LM | "Develop in-space and surface habitation system(s) for crew to live in deep space for extended durations, enabling future missions to Mars." | yes | |
| TH-08 LM | "Develop systems that monitor and maintain crew health and performance throughout all mission phases, including during communication delays to Earth, and in an environment that does not allow emergency evacuation or terrestrial medical assistance." | yes | |
| TH-09 L | "Develop integrated human and robotic systems with inter-relationships that enable maximum science and exploration during lunar missions." | no | |
| TH-11 L | "Develop systems capable of returning a range of cargo mass from the lunar surface to Earth, including the capabilities necessary to meet scientific and utilization objectives." | yes |
There is no TH-05, TH-06, TH-07, TH-10 or TH-12 in the sheet. All five are Mars-only (M) in the 2022 document (below).
| Code | HLR use cases | FE+ adds |
|---|---|---|
| TH-01 L | (7) UC-T-101 L, UC-T-102 L, UC-T-103 L, UC-T-104 L, UC-T-107 L, UC-T-108 L, UC-T-401 L | (3) UC-A-401 L, UC-A-402 L, UC-U-101 L |
| TH-02 L | (1) UC-U-807 L | (4) UC-T-201 L, UC-T-202 L, UC-M-401 L, UC-M-402 L |
| TH-03 L | (4) UC-H-101 L, UC-H-106 L, UC-L-202 L, UC-M-101 L | (10) UC-H-102 L to UC-H-105 L, UC-L-201 L, UC-P-101 L, UC-P-102 L, UC-P-301 L, UC-P-302 L, UC-M-102 L |
| TH-04 LM | (5) UC-T-102 L, UC-T-103 L, UC-H-101 L, UC-H-106 L, UC-L-202 L | (9) UC-H-102 L to UC-H-105 L, UC-L-201 L, UC-P-101 L, UC-P-102 L, UC-P-301 L, UC-P-302 L |
| TH-08 LM | (3) UC-X-102 L, UC-U-719 L, UC-U-721 L | (3) UC-X-101 L, UC-X-103 L, UC-X-104 L |
| TH-09 L | none | (8) UC-A-101 L, UC-A-104 L, UC-A-106 L, UC-A-107 L, UC-A-202 L, UC-U-102 L, UC-U-105 L, UC-U-106 L |
| TH-11 L | (4) UC-T-203 L, UC-T-204 L, UC-T-301 L, UC-G-202 L | (7) UC-T-302 L to UC-T-307 L, UC-G-201 L |
As printed: in the HLR sheet, TH-02 L ("routinely deliver a range of elements to the lunar surface") has one use case, "Conduct of end-of-life operations" (UC-U-807 L). The cargo transport and unloading use cases come in with FE+.
OP: Operations¶
| Code | Objective | HLR | Data gaps |
|---|---|---|---|
| OP-01 L | "Conduct human research and technology demonstrations on the surface of Earth, low-Earth orbit platforms, cislunar platforms, and on the surface of the moon, to evaluate the effects of extended mission durations on the performance of crew and systems, reduce risk, and shorten the timeframe for system testing and readiness prior to the initial human Mars exploration campaign." | yes | |
| OP-02 LM | "Optimize operations, training and interaction between the team on Earth, crew members on orbit, and a Martian surface team considering communication delays, autonomy level, and time required for an early return to the Earth." | yes | |
| OP-03 LM | "Characterize accessible resources, gather scientific research data, and analyze potential reserves to satisfy science and technology objectives and enable use of resources on successive missions." | yes | DN-006 L, DN-007 L |
| OP-04 LM | "Establish command and control processes, common interfaces, and ground systems that will support expanding human missions at the Moon and Mars." | no | |
| OP-05 LM | "Operate surface mobility systems, e.g., extra-vehicular activity (EVA) suits, tools and vehicles." | yes | DN-008 L, DN-009 L, DN-014 L, DN-001 M |
| OP-06 L | "Evaluate, understand, and mitigate the impacts on crew health and performance of a long deep space orbital mission, followed by partial gravity surface operations on the Moon." | yes | |
| OP-07 LM | "Validate readiness of systems and operations to support crew health and performance for the initial human Mars exploration campaign." | yes | |
| OP-08 LM | "Demonstrate the capability to find, service, upgrade, or utilize instruments and equipment from robotic landers or previous human missions on the surface of the Moon and Mars." | no | |
| OP-09 LM | "Demonstrate the capability of integrated robotic systems to support and maximize the useful work performed by crewmembers on the surface, and in orbit." | no | |
| OP-10 LM | "Demonstrate the capability to operate robotic systems that are used to support crew members on the lunar or Martian surface, autonomously or remotely from the Earth or from orbiting platforms." | no | |
| OP-11 LM | "Demonstrate the capability to use commodities produced from planetary surface or in-space resources to reduce the mass required to be transported from Earth." | no | |
| OP-12 LM | "Establish procedures and systems that will minimize the disturbance to the local environment, maximize the resources available to future explorers, and allow for reuse/recycling of material transported from Earth (and from the lunar surface in the case of Mars) to be used during exploration." | yes |
| Code | HLR use cases | FE+ adds |
|---|---|---|
| OP-01 L | (5) UC-T-104 L, UC-H-101 L, UC-H-106 L, UC-H-202 L, UC-L-202 L | (6) UC-H-102 L to UC-H-105 L, UC-H-201 L, UC-L-201 L |
| OP-02 LM | (1) UC-T-501 L | (3) UC-X-201 L, UC-X-202 L, UC-A-301 L |
| OP-03 LM | (5) UC-T-105 L, UC-T-301 L, UC-G-202 L, UC-U-103 L, UC-U-301 L | (23) UC-T-106 L, UC-T-302 L, UC-T-305 L, UC-T-306 L, UC-G-201 L, UC-M-301 L, UC-M-303 L, UC-A-106 L, UC-U-102 L, UC-U-104 L, UC-U-105 L, UC-U-106 L, UC-U-107 L, UC-U-108 L, UC-U-302 L to UC-U-308 L, UC-U-717 L, UC-U-718 L |
| OP-04 LM | none | (2) UC-D-101 L, UC-D-102 L |
| OP-05 LM | (2) UC-M-101 L, UC-M-103 L | (2) UC-M-301 L, UC-M-302 L |
| OP-06 L | (4) UC-T-104 L, UC-H-101 L, UC-H-106 L, UC-L-202 L | (5) UC-H-102 L to UC-H-105 L, UC-L-201 L |
| OP-07 LM | (2) UC-H-202 L, UC-X-102 L | (4) UC-H-201 L, UC-X-101 L, UC-X-103 L, UC-X-104 L |
| OP-08 LM | none | (2) UC-U-726 L, UC-U-727 L |
| OP-09 LM | none | (9) UC-A-101 L to UC-A-106 L, UC-U-102 L, UC-U-105 L, UC-U-106 L |
| OP-10 LM | none | none: the use-case cells read "BLANK" |
| OP-11 LM | none | (7) UC-I-102 L to UC-I-106 L, UC-I-202 L, UC-I-203 L |
| OP-12 LM | (1) UC-U-804 L | (6) UC-U-727 L, UC-U-728 L, UC-U-801 L, UC-U-802 L, UC-U-803 L, UC-U-806 L |
OP-03 LM's wording is AS-03 LM's without "lunar and Martian" and with "use of resources" for "In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU)". Their FE+ use cases differ by two, UC-M-101 L and UC-M-302 L, which AS-03 LM has and OP-03 LM doesn't (the wiki's comparison).
Use cases with no function¶
The "Functions to Use Cases" sheets give some use cases no function: their function cells read "BLANK" (source page).
- HLR (9): UC-T-501 L, UC-G-202 L, UC-G-301 L, UC-H-202 L, UC-P-501 L, UC-P-502 L, UC-U-804 L, UC-U-805 L, UC-U-807 L
- FE+ (17): UC-T-501 L, UC-G-201 L, UC-G-202 L, UC-G-301 L, UC-H-201 L, UC-H-202 L, UC-P-501 L, UC-P-502 L, UC-U-726 L, UC-U-727 L, UC-U-801 L to UC-U-807 L
They are still mapped to objectives above. So, for example, every FE+ use case of SE-07 LM (preserving special regions) has no function, and so has no asset.
Compared with the tech gaps (the wiki's comparison of the two sheets). Where a tech gap lists a use case with no function, the decomposition mostly agrees:
- These use cases have no function in the FE+ decomposition either:
- The exception is #0307. It lists UC-U-719 L to UC-U-722 L with no function, but the FE+ decomposition gives each of them functions (cargo transport, communications, robotics and utilization accommodation).
Numbering and the 63 objectives¶
- 52 of 63. ADD Appendix A.2 counts "The 63 objectives" (ADD Rev C, p. 107). The lunar sheet has 52.
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The eleven not in the sheet are, by the 2022 document (Moon to Mars Objectives, pp. 6–10):
- the ten Mars-only objectives: LPS-4 M, MI-1 M to MI-4 M, TH-5 M, TH-6 M, TH-7 M, TH-10 M, TH-12 M
- AS-2 LM, the one objective for both bodies that the sheet leaves out
Their wording is on Objectives. All eleven are in the Mars decomposition, with the 35 LM objectives this sheet shares with it (Mars objectives). In this sheet, AS-02, TH-05 to TH-07 and TH-10 show as gaps in the numbering, and MI is absent. LPS-4 and TH-12 come at the end of their sequences, so their absence doesn't show.
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Which of the eleven the ADD names. ADD Rev C names all ten Mars-only objectives: LPS-4 on p. 37, as a Mars objective, "which cannot be addressed on the Moon" (Humans to Mars quotes it), and TH-5, TH-6, TH-7, TH-10, TH-12 and MI-1 to MI-4 on p. 38. It doesn't name AS-2.
- How the ADD writes the codes. The ADD's segment sections write "LI-1", "TH-11", "OP-9" (pp. 25, 28, 38) and once "TH-04-M" (p. 38). Its data-gap tables write "LI-07 L", like the sheets. The wiki reads "LI-1" and "LI-01 L" as the same objective (same goal and number); no source says so.
- The ADD's HLR text and the HLR sheet. The ADD says Artemis I tested "supporting ground infrastructure (OP-4)" (p. 25), but the HLR sheet has no OP-04 LM; it appears in FE+ only. The ADD's FE section names LI-4, LI-8, OP-4, OP-9 and OP-10 (p. 28); all five are in the FE+ sheet. The segment pages quote these passages: Human Lunar Return, Foundational Exploration.
The suffixes L, M and LM¶
NASA's definition: "Superscript text indicates the applicability to Lunar (L), Martian (M) or both (LM)" (Moon to Mars Objectives, p. 6, PDF checked). The 2023 strategy document repeats it (Strategy and Objectives Development, PDF p. 18). Neither the sheet nor the ADD explains the suffixes (open question 19). What the sheets show, against that definition:
- In this sheet: 17 objectives end in L and 35 in LM. None ends in M alone. HLR has 14 L and 25 LM. These are exactly the 2022 suffixes (the wiki's check of all 52).
- In the data-gaps sheet: Mars-only codes end in M (MI-04 M, TH-06 M, TH-07 M), as in 2022. Two LM codes are cited by both lunar and Mars data gaps: OP-05 LM (DN-008 L, DN-009 L, DN-014 L and DN-001 M) and SE-07 LM (DN-017 L, DN-018 L, DN-005 M and DN-006 M).
- Applicability, not subject. Eight LM objectives name neither the Moon nor Mars (HBS-03, SE-02, AS-04, TH-08, OP-03, OP-05, OP-09, OP-11), and two L objectives mention Mars (TH-03 L, "Mars analog activities"; OP-01 L, "prior to the initial human Mars exploration campaign"). The definition is about where an objective applies, so neither is a conflict. Reading the two L objectives as lunar activities that prepare for Mars is the wiki's.
- One ADD exception: "TH-04-M" (ADD p. 38) for the objective marked LM everywhere else.
Compared with the 2022 Objectives¶
The wiki checked the objective column of the "FE+ Use Cases to Objectives" sheet against the 2022 document (Moon to Mars Objectives, pp. 6–11, PDF checked). The check searched the CSV for each 2022 text, goal by goal: all 52 objectives were found, each under its goal's codes.
- The wording is the 2022 wording, word for word. The only differences are final periods: the sheet ends HBS-03 LM and AS-04 LM with one, and the 2022 document doesn't.
- Not the 2023 wording. The 2023 strategy document rewords four of these objectives slightly (LPS-2, HBS-2, OP-1, OP-2). The sheet has the 2022 form of all four (Objectives).
- Codes. The 2022 document writes "LPS-1" with the suffix in superscript; the sheet writes "LPS-01 LM". Number and suffix match for all 52.
Related pages¶
Objectives: the ten goals · Lunar function allocation · Mars objectives · Lunar characteristics and needs · Objective decomposition · Use cases and functions · Lunar use cases · Lunar functions · Data gaps index · Segments · Lunar decomposition source page
Sources¶
Lunar objective decomposition spreadsheet, sheets "HLR Use Cases to Objectives", "FE+ Use Cases to Objectives", "HLR Functions to Use Cases" and "FE+ Functions to Use Cases" · Data gaps spreadsheet, Objective column · Tech gaps spreadsheet, "Architecture Traceability: Use Cases & Functions" column · ADD Rev C, pp. 25, 28, 37–38, 107 · Moon to Mars Objectives (2022), pp. 6–11 · Strategy and Objectives Development (2023), PDF pp. 18–31