Objectives in the Mars decomposition¶
Summary. NASA's Mars objective decomposition spreadsheet (December 2025) traces 46 Moon to Mars objectives to the Mars use cases that serve them: every objective marked LM (36) and every one marked M (10). With the lunar sheet's 52, that covers all 63. Forty of the 46 have Mars use cases (370 links in all); six have none, and among them is AS-2 LM, the one objective the lunar sheet leaves out. This page lists each objective's code, the use cases under it, and how it compares with the lunar sheet. The objectives' wording is on the pages linked below, not repeated here.
Use-case titles and the functions under each are on Mars use cases. The goals are on Objectives: the ten goals. The spreadsheet is described on its source page.
How this page is built¶
- From the "Use Cases to Objectives" sheet, row = the objective code (Mars decomposition). Use cases are listed in the sheet's order, which is mostly by letter (it lists UC-U-717 M before UC-U-716 M under PPS-02 LM and AS-06 LM).
- Wording. The sheet prints each objective in full. The wiki compared them by eye: the 35 LM objectives shared with the lunar sheet are worded as there (on Lunar objectives), and the ten M objectives and AS-02 LM are worded as in the 2022 Moon to Mars Objectives (on Objectives). Read the wording there.
- "Subject" is a short label the wiki made from the wording, to help scanning. It is not NASA's.
- Counts are the wiki's, by code and ID.
At a glance¶
| Goal | Objectives in the Mars sheet | With no use case | Objective–use case links | Lunar sheet (FE+) for comparison |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LPS | 4 (3 LM, 1 M) | 0 | 58 | 3 objectives, 61 links |
| HS | 4 | 0 | 19 | 4, 43 |
| HBS | 3 | 0 | 61 | 3, 87 |
| PPS | 1 | 0 | 9 | 2, 10 |
| SE | 7 | 3 | 26 | 7, 57 |
| AS | 6 | 3 | 22 | 5, 44 |
| LI Lunar Infrastructure | 0 | 9, 63 | ||
| MI | 4 | 0 | 22 | 0 |
| TH | 7 (2 LM, 5 M) | 0 | 62 | 7, 68 |
| OP | 10 | 0 | 91 | 12, 89 |
| Total | 46 | 6 | 370 | 52 objectives, 522 links |
The lunar column is from Lunar objectives. The Mars sheet's 376 rows are the 370 links plus six "BLANK" rows.
What's not here: every L objective (17): LI-1 to LI-9, PPS-1, TH-1 to TH-3, TH-9, TH-11, OP-1 and OP-6 (Objectives).
Most links: HBS-01 LM (22), HBS-03 LM (20), HBS-02 LM and LPS-03 LM (19 each), OP-03 LM (18), and AS-03 LM, LPS-04 M and TH-05 M (17 each). Fewest (among those with any): HS-04 LM (1), and HS-01 LM, AS-06 LM, OP-11 LM and TH-10 M (2 each).
LPS: Lunar and Planetary Science¶
| Code | Subject (wiki's label) | Use cases (Mars sheet) | In the lunar sheet |
|---|---|---|---|
| LPS-01 LM | solar system origin, impact chronology | (10) UC-T-102 M, UC-T-301 M, UC-G-201 M, UC-M-301 M, UC-M-601 M, UC-C-111 M, UC-A-109 M, UC-U-103 M, UC-U-302 M, UC-U-701 M | yes |
| LPS-02 LM | geologic processes | (12) UC-T-102 M, UC-T-301 M, UC-G-201 M, UC-M-301 M, UC-M-601 M, UC-C-111 M, UC-A-109 M, UC-U-103 M, UC-U-302 M, UC-U-702 M, UC-U-703 M, UC-U-704 M | yes |
| LPS-03 LM | volatiles | (19) UC-T-102 M, UC-T-302 M, UC-T-303 M, UC-G-202 M, UC-M-301 M, UC-M-601 M, UC-C-111 M, UC-A-109 M, UC-U-103 M, UC-U-104 M, UC-U-301 M, UC-U-302 M, UC-U-303 M, UC-U-305 M, UC-U-702 M, UC-U-703 M, UC-U-705 M, UC-U-802 M, UC-U-808 M | yes |
| LPS-04 M | origin of life, habitable environments | (17) UC-T-102 M, UC-T-303 M, UC-G-202 M, UC-M-301 M, UC-M-601 M, UC-C-111 M, UC-A-109 M, UC-U-103 M, UC-U-104 M, UC-U-301 M, UC-U-302 M, UC-U-303 M, UC-U-305 M, UC-U-702 M, UC-U-703 M, UC-U-802 M, UC-U-808 M | no (M) |
The four share a core: crew landing (UC-T-102 M), crew and asset traverses (UC-M-301 M, UC-M-601 M), science-grade communications (UC-C-111 M), robotic site surveillance (UC-A-109 M) and sample identification and collection. LPS-03 LM and LPS-04 M add the special-region samples, cryogenic sample return (UC-T-303 M; LPS-03 LM also frozen, UC-T-302 M), planetary stewardship (UC-U-802 M) and the Earth-life payloads (UC-U-808 M). The grouping is the wiki's reading.
HS: Heliophysics Science¶
| Code | Subject (wiki's label) | Use cases (Mars sheet) | In the lunar sheet |
|---|---|---|---|
| HS-01 LM | space weather | (2) UC-D-201 M, UC-U-706 M | yes |
| HS-02 LM | history of the Sun in the regolith | (11) UC-T-102 M, UC-T-301 M, UC-G-201 M, UC-M-301 M, UC-M-601 M, UC-A-109 M, UC-U-103 M, UC-U-104 M, UC-U-302 M, UC-U-303 M, UC-U-305 M | yes |
| HS-03 LM | plasma processes | (5) UC-T-301 M, UC-G-201 M, UC-U-103 M, UC-U-302 M, UC-U-708 M | yes |
| HS-04 LM | magnetotail and solar wind | (1) UC-U-709 M | yes |
HBS: Human and Biological Science¶
| Code | Subject (wiki's label) | Use cases (Mars sheet) | In the lunar sheet |
|---|---|---|---|
| HBS-01 LM | effects of the environments on biological systems | (22) UC-T-101 M, UC-T-102 M, UC-T-301 M, UC-T-302 M, UC-T-304 M, UC-T-306 M, UC-T-307 M, UC-T-308 M, UC-T-309 M, UC-G-201 M, UC-G-202 M, UC-H-109 M, UC-H-110 M, UC-M-202 M, UC-U-105 M, UC-U-106 M, UC-U-201 M, UC-U-202 M, UC-U-710 M, UC-U-711 M, UC-U-712 M, UC-U-713 M | yes |
| HBS-02 LM | Earth-independent crew health systems | (19) as HBS-01 LM, without UC-T-304 M, UC-U-105 M and UC-U-106 M | yes |
| HBS-03 LM | exploration systems, environment and human performance | (20) as HBS-01 LM, without UC-U-105 M and UC-U-106 M | yes |
PPS: Physics and Physical Science¶
| Code | Subject (wiki's label) | Use cases (Mars sheet) | In the lunar sheet |
|---|---|---|---|
| PPS-02 LM | physical systems and fundamental physics | (9) UC-T-301 M, UC-T-307 M, UC-G-201 M, UC-U-201 M, UC-U-202 M, UC-U-714 M, UC-U-715 M, UC-U-717 M, UC-U-716 M | yes |
PPS-1 L (far-side astrophysics) is lunar only.
SE: Science-Enabling¶
| Code | Subject (wiki's label) | Use cases (Mars sheet) | In the lunar sheet |
|---|---|---|---|
| SE-01 LM | science training for crew | none ("BLANK") | yes, with use cases |
| SE-02 LM | remote support by Earth-based scientists | none ("BLANK") | yes, with use cases |
| SE-03 LM | frozen-volatile cores returned pristine | (6) UC-T-303 M, UC-G-202 M, UC-U-103 M, UC-U-104 M, UC-U-303 M, UC-U-305 M | yes |
| SE-04 LM | representative samples from many locations | (11) UC-T-301 M, UC-T-302 M, UC-G-201 M, UC-G-202 M, UC-U-103 M, UC-U-104 M, UC-U-301 M, UC-U-302 M, UC-U-303 M, UC-U-305 M, UC-U-702 M | yes |
| SE-05 LM | robotic survey before and with crew | none ("BLANK") | yes, with use cases |
| SE-06 LM | instruments to many orbits and sites | (4) UC-T-102 M, UC-M-301 M, UC-M-601 M, UC-A-109 M | yes |
| SE-07 LM | preserving features of special interest | (5) UC-U-801 M, UC-U-802 M, UC-U-805 M, UC-U-806 M, UC-U-807 M | yes |
SE-07 LM's wording names "Martian recurring slope lineae" as a feature to preserve; its Mars use cases are waste, stewardship, disposal, bioburden and contamination control.
AS: Applied Science¶
| Code | Subject (wiki's label) | Use cases (Mars sheet) | In the lunar sheet |
|---|---|---|---|
| AS-01 LM | monitoring surface and orbital environments | (3) UC-D-201 M, UC-U-704 M, UC-U-706 M | yes |
| AS-02 LM | coordinating orbital and surface measurements | none ("BLANK") | no |
| AS-03 LM | characterizing resources for ISRU | (17) UC-T-102 M, UC-T-301 M, UC-T-302 M, UC-G-201 M, UC-G-202 M, UC-M-301 M, UC-M-401 M, UC-M-601 M, UC-C-301 M, UC-A-109 M, UC-I-101 M, UC-U-103 M, UC-U-104 M, UC-U-301 M, UC-U-302 M, UC-U-303 M, UC-U-305 M | yes |
| AS-04 LM | bioregenerative life support | none ("BLANK") | yes, with use cases |
| AS-05 LM | crop plants | none ("BLANK") | yes, with use cases |
| AS-06 LM | physical systems in partial gravity | (2) UC-U-717 M, UC-U-716 M | yes |
MI: Mars Infrastructure¶
| Code | Subject (wiki's label) | Use cases (Mars sheet) | In the lunar sheet |
|---|---|---|---|
| MI-01 M | surface power | (6) UC-P-101 M, UC-P-102 M, UC-P-103 M, UC-P-301 M, UC-P-302 M, UC-P-501 M | no (M) |
| MI-02 M | surface, orbital and Mars–Earth communications | (9) UC-C-101 M, UC-C-102 M, UC-C-103 M, UC-C-104 M, UC-C-105 M, UC-C-107 M, UC-C-108 M, UC-C-109 M, UC-C-110 M | no (M) |
| MI-03 M | position, navigation and timing | (4) UC-C-201 M, UC-C-202 M, UC-C-203 M, UC-C-204 M | no (M) |
| MI-04 M | ISRU demonstration | (3) UC-M-404 M, UC-I-102 M, UC-U-102 M | no (M) |
The MI objectives follow the use-case letters: MI-01 M takes all six power use cases, MI-03 M all four C 200 (PNT) use cases, and MI-02 M nine of the eleven C 100 (communications) ones, all but UC-C-106 M (common interfaces, under OP-04 LM) and UC-C-111 M (science-grade links, under the LPS objectives). The pattern is the wiki's reading.
TH: Transportation and Habitation¶
| Code | Subject (wiki's label) | Use cases (Mars sheet) | In the lunar sheet |
|---|---|---|---|
| TH-04 LM | habitation for long stays in deep space | (9) UC-T-103 M, UC-T-201 M, UC-H-102 M, UC-H-103 M, UC-H-104 M, UC-H-105 M, UC-H-202 M, UC-M-201 M, UC-M-202 M | yes |
| TH-08 LM | crew health with no evacuation or terrestrial help | (15) UC-G-401 M, UC-G-402 M, UC-H-102 M, UC-H-103 M, UC-H-106 M, UC-H-107 M, UC-X-101 M to UC-X-109 M | yes |
| TH-05 M | crew transport to Mars vicinity and the surface | (17) UC-T-101 M to UC-T-108 M, UC-T-201 M to UC-T-206 M, UC-H-203 M, UC-H-204 M, UC-H-205 M | no (M) |
| TH-06 M | delivering elements to the surface | (7) UC-T-108 M, UC-T-201 M, UC-T-202 M, UC-T-203 M, UC-T-207 M, UC-M-401 M, UC-U-805 M | no (M) |
| TH-07 M | crew exploring, operating and living on the surface | (3) UC-H-103 M, UC-H-105 M, UC-M-202 M | no (M) |
| TH-10 M | integrated human and robotic systems | (2) UC-M-402 M, UC-M-403 M | no (M) |
| TH-12 M | returning cargo from Mars | (9) UC-T-203 M, UC-T-208 M, UC-T-209 M, UC-T-301 M, UC-T-302 M, UC-T-303 M, UC-T-306 M, UC-G-201 M, UC-G-202 M | no (M) |
The sheet lists TH-04 LM and TH-08 LM with the LM objectives and the five M ones at the end. TH-04 LM is the ADD's worked example of the Mars decomposition, written "TH-04-M" there (Humans to Mars); the sheet writes "TH-04 LM", as the 2022 document does.
OP: Operations¶
| Code | Subject (wiki's label) | Use cases (Mars sheet) | In the lunar sheet |
|---|---|---|---|
| OP-02 LM | operations with communication delays | (14) UC-G-501 M, UC-G-502 M, UC-H-101 M, UC-H-108 M, UC-H-201 M, UC-X-201 M, UC-C-301 M, UC-A-301 M, UC-A-401 M to UC-A-406 M | yes |
| OP-03 LM | characterizing resources for later missions | (18) as AS-03 LM, plus UC-U-102 M | yes |
| OP-04 LM | command and control, common interfaces, ground systems | (8) UC-C-101 M to UC-C-108 M | yes |
| OP-05 LM | surface mobility systems (suits, tools, vehicles) | (4) UC-G-402 M, UC-M-101 M, UC-M-301 M, UC-M-601 M | yes |
| OP-07 LM | readiness for crew health on the first Mars campaign | (13) UC-G-401 M, UC-G-402 M, UC-H-102 M, UC-H-103 M, UC-X-101 M to UC-X-109 M | yes |
| OP-08 LM | finding and servicing earlier equipment | (5) UC-G-402 M, UC-M-602 M, UC-U-501 M, UC-U-803 M, UC-U-804 M | yes |
| OP-09 LM | robots that maximize crew work | (14) UC-C-301 M, UC-C-302 M, UC-C-303 M, UC-A-101 M to UC-A-108 M, UC-A-201 M, UC-A-202 M, UC-A-301 M | yes |
| OP-10 LM | operating robots autonomously or remotely | (7) UC-C-302 M, UC-C-303 M, UC-A-201 M, UC-A-202 M, UC-A-301 M, UC-A-403 M, UC-A-404 M | yes, with no use case there |
| OP-11 LM | using in-situ commodities | (2) UC-I-102 M, UC-I-201 M | yes |
| OP-12 LM | minimal disturbance, reuse and recycling | (6) UC-M-602 M, UC-U-801 M, UC-U-802 M, UC-U-805 M, UC-U-806 M, UC-U-807 M | yes |
OP-1 L and OP-6 L are lunar only. OP-07 LM is TH-08 LM's list without UC-H-106 M and UC-H-107 M (habitat environment monitoring).
Objectives with no use case¶
Six objectives read "BLANK" for their use cases in the Mars sheet:
| Code | Subject (wiki's label) | In the lunar sheet |
|---|---|---|
| SE-01 LM | science training for crew | with use cases |
| SE-02 LM | remote support by Earth-based scientists | with use cases |
| SE-05 LM | robotic survey before and with crew | with use cases |
| AS-02 LM | coordinating orbital and surface measurements | not in the lunar sheet |
| AS-04 LM | bioregenerative life support | with use cases |
| AS-05 LM | crop plants | with use cases |
The reverse case is OP-10 LM: no use case in the lunar sheet, seven in the Mars sheet (Lunar objectives). So AS-02 LM is the one objective of the 63 with no use case in either sheet. Neither sheet nor the ADD says why (open question 62).
Some Mars use cases sound close to the blank objectives: UC-A-109 M, "Robotic surveillance of Martian surface near potential crewed landing and exploration sites", against SE-05 LM; UC-H-201 M and UC-X-201 M, on-demand crew training, against SE-01 LM. The sheet doesn't map them there (UC-A-109 M is under the LPS, HS-02, SE-06, AS-03 and OP-03 objectives; the training use cases under OP-02 LM). The comparison is the wiki's.
In the 2024 Mars table. All six had no use case in 2024 either. Each has characteristics and needs (C&Ns), and none of those C&Ns has a use case. Six other science objectives were in the same position in 2024 and have use cases here: HS-01, HS-04, PPS-02, AS-01, AS-06 and SE-06 (Mars characteristics and needs). In 2024 only the Transportation and Habitation, Mars Infrastructure and Operations objectives were decomposed to use cases (2024 Mars table).
In the 2024 Mars table¶
The 2024 Mars Objective Mapping Tables map the same 46 objectives through 115 characteristics and needs to 113 use cases (Mars characteristics and needs). For the four objectives checked (MI-03 M, OP-09 LM, OP-10 LM, TH-07 M), the use cases on this page are exactly the use cases under the objective's 2024 C&Ns. OP-10 LM's seven, for example, are the union of those under CN-A-202 M, CN-A-203 M and CN-A-301 M. The other objectives weren't checked. The science objectives were not decomposed to use cases in 2024, except through C&Ns shared with Operations or Transportation and Habitation objectives (2024 Mars table).
Compared with the lunar sheet¶
- Together the two sheets cover all 63 objectives: 17 L in the lunar sheet only, 10 M in the Mars sheet only, 35 LM in both, and AS-2 LM in the Mars sheet only (Objectives).
- One decomposition, not two. The lunar sheet has an "HLR" and an "FE+" version; the Mars sheet has one, with no segment label.
- Fewer links. For the goals both sheets cover, the Mars sheet has fewer objective–use case links (for example HBS 61 against 87, SE 26 against 57, AS 22 against 44).
- The same wording for the 35 shared objectives (the wiki's check by eye).
- Data gaps appear in neither decomposition sheet. The data-gaps spreadsheet names three Mars codes, MI-04 M, TH-06 M and TH-07 M (Objectives); which data gaps cite each is on the data gaps index.
Related pages¶
Objectives: the ten goals · Lunar objectives · Mars characteristics and needs · Mars use cases · Mars functions · Humans to Mars · Objective decomposition · Mars decomposition source page
Sources¶
Mars objective decomposition spreadsheet, "Use Cases to Objectives" sheet · Lunar objective decomposition spreadsheet, "FE+ Use Cases to Objectives" (via Lunar objectives) · Moon to Mars Objectives (2022), pp. 6–11 (via Objectives) · ADD Rev C, p. 38 · 2024 Mars table, C&N sheets