ESAS Final Report - First Installment

Executive Summary (Introduction): NASA Exploration Systems Architecture Study Final Report (DRAFT) October 2005, NASA HQ

"To determine the best exploration architecture and strategy to implement these many changes, the Exploration Systems Architecture Study (ESAS) team was established at NASA Headquarters (HQ) as discussed below."

Executive Summary (CEV): NASA Exploration Systems Architecture Study Final Report (DRAFT) October 2005, NASA HQ

"One of the key requirements to enable a successful human space exploration program is the development and implementation of a vehicle capable of transporting and housing crew on LEO, lunar, and Mars missions."

Editor's note: 793 pages to wade through - all quite interesting. More to follow -- after Christmas.

At first glance, you can tell that they really put a lot of thought into this report - the schematics (below) of a lunar outpost build-up plan and the LSAM trade studies are good examples. Of course as the budget "sand" chart (below) shows, this is not going to be cheap.