Iac-06- D3.3.1 an Integrated Modeling Tool for Sustainable Space Exploration

In order to ensure that future human lunar and Mars exploration programs are both affordable and sustainable, it is essential to consider the impact of logistics, especially for long-duration and multiple mission campaigns. It is important that logistics be taken into account at an early stage in the design process, because the exploration architecture and vehicle design undoubtedly impact logistics-related operations costs. In order to understand the specific logistics costs associated with various exploration architecture choices, a modeling framework and planning tool for interplanetary space logistics is required. Terrestrial logistics and supply chain management is a highly-developed field; techniques for efficient supply chain management have been proven very effective in the business case. The wealth of information in this area can be applied to the interplanetary problem in order to develop a model for understanding space logistics. This paper describes the space logistics model developed by personnel at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) to understand the supply chain management problem for human lunar and Mars exploration. This paper also discusses the results of several trade studies performed using this tool.