The Role of the Lunar Exploration Analysis Group (LEAG) in Enabling a Sustainable Exploration Effort to the Moon, Mars, and Beyond

Clive R. Neal
Civil Eng. & Geological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN

The proposed return to the Moon in 2018 will occur approximately 45 years after the last human walked on the lunar surface during the Apollo program. Looking back, it is evident that the Apollo program (which visited different locations, took everything needed to survive on each mission, and was funded through a single government) was not sustainable. In this new era of lunar exploration, we must learn from history in order to establish a sustainable, long-term space exploration program. Emplacement of infrastructure (i.e., a lunar outpost) at one location sets the scene for initiating a long-term lunar exploration effort. Making this effort sustainable will require international cooperation, in situ resources utilization, and the involvement of the commercial sector, which in turn allows fascinating scientific investigations to be conducted. The Lunar Exploration Analysis Group (LEAG: http://www.lpi.usra.edu/leag) is at the center of integrating such efforts. The LEAG, established in 2004, is responsible for analyzing scientific, technical, commercial, and operational issues associated with lunar exploration in response to requests by NASA. It serves as a community-based, interdisciplinary forum for future exploration and provides analysis in support of lunar exploration objectives and their implications for lunar architecture planning and activity prioritization. The LEAG discharges its responsibilities through Specific Action Teams (SATs) and a focused annual meeting. For example, the 2007 meeting concentrated on avenues to involve the commercial sector, outpost site selection criteria, in situ resource utilization for outpost sustainment, sample return technologies, field exploration and astronaut training, robotic missions, and international partnerships. This meeting is also an avenue for NASA to brief the community on exploration developments.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90078©2008 AAPG Annual Convention, San Antonio, Texas