The Review of U.S. Human Space Flight Plans Committee has drawn up several alternate architectures for NASA to pursue its mission of sending astronauts beyond low Earth orbit (LEO). For a more complete summary, see “Future of NASA: Program of Record“. The fourth architecture in the list is ISS focused with additional Space Shuttle flights, assuming an increased budget of $3 billion per year. Of the options presented at the final public meeting and carried forward, this was studied in the least detail.

2010

The first commercial cargo deliveries to the International Space Station (ISS) begin.

2011

Space Shuttle flights continue at a reduced pace of one or two per year, delivering crews and supplies to ISS. Utilization of ISS for R&D increases.

2015

The Space Shuttle is retired.

2016

In June, a commercial crew transportation service to ISS becomes operational.

2020

ISS is retired in January. The budget provides funding for a propulsion module which will bring ISS to a controlled re-entry. Some of it will burn up in the atmosphere, the rest will be disposed of in the ocean.

2020s

A Shuttle-Derived Heavy-Lift (SDLV) launcher becomes operational, carrying cargo only.

2030s

Humans land on the Moon, spend a week on the surface, and return to Earth. Future missions may provide more mobility and equipment for longer stays.

References

• “Integrated Options for Human Exploration Discussion“. Review of US Human Space Flight Plans Committee. 12 August 2009.
• Ride, Sally; Crawley, Ed; Greason, Jeff; Behmuk, Bo. “Scenario Affordability Analysis“. Review of US Human Space Flight Plans Committee. 12 August 2009.

More in this series:

• The Program of Record
• ISS Focused (Constrained Budget)
• ISS Focused (Increased Budget)
• ISS/Shuttle Extension
• Deep Space (Ares V “Light”)
• Deep Space (Commercial HLV)
• Deep Space (Shuttle Derived)

Related posts:

1. Future of NASA: ISS Focused (Constrained Budget)
2. Future of NASA: ISS Focused (Increased Budget)
3. Future of NASA: The Program of Record