Paul Gilbert, manager of the science programs office at the Center, says they’re still in the very early stages of working out how to get to the red planet.
"Part of that is working with our partners from the International Space Station. We’re working through that organization, having discussions, what are their ideas, here are some of our ideas. And so, we’re in the early sketchpad phases of trying to work that out and the partners have ideas and desires and things they want to do in cislunar space."
Teams at the Marshall Space Flight Center are taking ideas from concept to design, developing spacecraft that will land on Mars and support life in frigid temperatures.
At the Advanced Concepts Office, aerospace engineer Tara Polsgrove is giving a presentation about designs for a Mars lander that would safely deliver humans to the surface of the planet.
A Mars lander is essentially two parts. The bottom half is the descent stage, it has the propulsion systems on it to enable that soft landing. And, on top, is the payload. So, we treat this kind of like a flatbed truck. So, any kind of payload would sit on top.
"You have a utility room down on the lower level, exercise room, kind of like a basement, downstairs. Your main floor level has room for the four bedrooms for the crew."
Teams are also using simulated Martian rock and soil to advance 3-D printing that could help astronauts build structures on Mars with materials already there.
NASA scientists and engineers are now working towards the first flight of Orion on top of the Space Launch System rocket. This test will not have humans on board.