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Projects: Aim for Mars

International Lunar Way Station

A Recommendation by The Planetary Society

Executive Summary:

The Planetary Society recommends establishment of an international Lunar Way Station - as a first step towards a Planetary Outposts exploration strategy, which systematically builds sustained robotic, then human assets at selected sites on a given planetary body. A Lunar Way Station would serve as a test bed for operational aspects of Planetary Outposts in a closer-to-home environment and would focus lunar missions in the coming decade. Following this strategy would also serve to focus and organize future Martian exploration. In addition, Planetary Outposts would maximize science and engineering effectiveness, bridge robotic and human exploration, improve safety of human missions, and engage the public, while being flexible to budget variations, new scientific and technical results, and international cooperation.

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Astronauts at the Lunar Way Station An artist's conception