Infrastructure Support (G)

Summary. The facilities, systems, equipment and services that support the other sub-architectures, on the ground, in space and on planetary surfaces (ADD Rev C, p. 42). Examples range from ground processing and recovery of spacecraft to lunar lighting, fluid-handling equipment and "prepared regolith structures". Its one element is Exploration Ground Systems. Seven technology gaps list it, two named in the Moon Base Users Guide (near-term). Decomposition letter: G.

NASA's description

"This sub-architecture comprises systems supporting Moon to Mars operations across the Earth (ground), in space, and in extraterrestrial surface domains. It includes the facilities, systems, equipment, and services required to support other sub-architectures.

Many exploration activities require additional equipment and support functions. For example, ground processing and landing and recovery of spaceflight elements and logistics items support the Transportation sub-architecture. On the lunar surface, equipment for handling, accessing, and transferring dry goods and fluid commodities; common and portable lighting support equipment; and prepared regolith structures are all likely to be shared across sub-architectures." (ADD Rev C, p. 42)

Rev A's revision history calls it "Infrastructure" (p. 3).

In the segments

The segment sections don't name this sub-architecture. Related passages (ADD Rev C):

• Human Lunar Return. Artemis I tested "supporting ground infrastructure (OP-4)" (p. 25).
• Foundational Exploration. Infrastructure objectives cover "surface infrastructure development to support industry (LI-4, LI-8)" (p. 28); the ADD lists this alongside the named sub-architectures without assigning it to one. Pressurized habitation and mobility "will create additional needs for logistics transport and stowage, trash disposal, maintenance, and other infrastructure services and support" (p. 29).
• Sustained Lunar Evolution. "assembly and construction" is among the areas for expanded demand signals (p. 36).

Elements

Element	Segments	Source
Exploration Ground Systems	Human Lunar Return, Foundational Exploration	ADD Rev C, pp. 26, 31

See the elements index. The one element is on the ground, at Kennedy Space Center (p. 49). No Rev C element provides the lunar-surface side of this sub-architecture (handling equipment, lighting, prepared regolith structures); that observation is the wiki's, read off the element list.

Technology gaps

Seven gaps list this sub-architecture (derived from the tech gaps spreadsheet, Sub-Architectures column). MB = named in the Moon Base Users Guide (near-term).

Gap	Rating	MB
#1107 Cryogenic Fluid Transfer	4
#0505 In-Situ Additive/Subtractive Construction	29	MB
#0504 Autonomous Lunar Surface Structure Assembly and Construction	30	MB
#1106 Cryogenic Fluid Storage	32
#0501 Robotic Inspection, Maintenance, and Repair	36
#0503 Transfer of Earth-Storable Propellants	50
#0502 In-situ Manufacturing of Spares, Repairs, and New Parts	57

The two cryogenic gaps also list Transportation Systems.

Moon Base Phase 1

The Users Guide has no Infrastructure Support group among its Phase 1 functional gaps (Users Guide, pp. 8–10). Two gaps of this sub-architecture are named in the Moon Base Users Guide (near-term): #0505 under "Manipulating regolith" and #0504 under the solar-power challenge (Technology and knowledge challenges).

Related pages

Sub-architectures · ISRU Systems · Transportation Systems · Elements · Gaps index

Sources

ADD Rev C, pp. 3, 25–26, 28–29, 31, 36, 40, 42 · Tech gaps spreadsheet · Users Guide, pp. 8–13