posted 11-23-2010 04:22 PM               

The L2-Farside mission is an intermediate step in a series of increasingly challenging human exploration missions beyond low Earth Orbit using the Orion spacecraft. The second Lagrange Point (L2) is a location where the combined gravity of the Earth and Moon allows a spacecraft to be synchronized with the Moon in its orbit around the Earth, so that the spacecraft appears to hover over the Farside of the Moon.

• Human missions to the L2 point over the unexplored Farside of the Moon can accomplish important scientific and exploration goals. From this unique orbiting vantage point, astronauts could control robots on the lunar surface to collect rock samples or deploy a radio telescope.

• These missions are feasible by 2016-2018 using Orion and either existing launch vehicles or a new heavy lift launch vehicle. Orion is already de- signed with the advanced capabilities needed for lunar flights, and can be easily modified to perform this mission. It could be launched to the Moon on a new heavy lift launch vehicle. Or, it could be launched on an existing Delta IV rocket or Ares I and boosted to the Moon using a Centaur upper stage launched separately.

• Farside missions are early stepping stones to more aggressive exploration. They provide practice flights beyond low Earth Orbit which are needed before attempting more difficult missions to asteroids. Astronauts would also demonstrate robot operations techniques that will later be used to explore Mars from orbit.