CxP 70057 (REV. B), ARES PROJECTS PLAN (12 AUG 2008)

CxP 70057 (REV. B), ARES PROJECTS PLAN (12 AUG 2008)., National Security Presidential Directive (NSPD) 31, the U.S. Space Exploration Policy (USEP), directs NASA to retire the Space Shuttle in 2010 and to replace it with a new generation of space transportation systems for crew and cargo travel to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. Crew transportation to the International Space Station (ISS) is planned for no later than 2014, and the first crewed lunar mission is planned in the 2020 time frame. The Project is driven by a desire to reduce the Nation’s human spaceflight gap, as well as to begin work on the Ares V and Altair lunar lander as soon as possible. Further contributing to the Project’s sense of urgency is the need to rebuild the Agency’s capacity as the world’s recognized leader in the development of launch systems. This must be accomplished despite severe budget constraints through at least the year 2010, as well as through the uncertainty of forthcoming changes in the Nation’s administration in 2009. Safe, reliable, and cost-effective space transportation is a foundational piece of America’s future in space, both strategic and tactical. The Ares Projects Office (APO) will deliver operational capabilities that support the Agency’s responsibility to fulfill the USEP and to help ensure United States (U.S.) preeminence in space through assured access, as outlined in the U.S. Space Transportation Policy (January 2005) and as directed by the NASA Authorization Act of 2005 and the Fiscal Year (FY) 2006 Appropriations Act for NASA. The Ares Projects Office, located at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC), is chartered to provide the new Ares I Crew Launch Vehicle (CLV) and Ares V Cargo Launch Vehicle (CaLV) space transportation systems. The Ares management team has developed an aggressive, yet realistic, multiyear plan and has implemented a rigorous systems engineering approach in coordination with, and guided by, the Constellation Program (CxP) and the Exploration Systems Mission Directorate (ESMD). The CxP 70003, Constellation Program Plan, governs this Ares Projects Plan. Change control and approval authority is described in Section 3.11, Information and Configuration Management Plan. Unique Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) numbers are given in Section 2.2, WBS Baseline.