NASA described the Path to Mars as mankind's next big leap, after the Apollo 11 mission landed the first humans on the Moon about 45 years ago.
The space agency explained current efforts for the next space frontier are all geared towards sending humans to Mars. This mission will be headquartered in the International Space Station with support from the ground crew of NASA in the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). Missions and research related to landing people on the Red planet will show the manner in which humans thrive in a new space environment.
As part of this mission, several researches and facility developments were put in plac, including the Orion spacecraft and the Space Launch System (SLS) heavy-lift rocket. The pair is reportedly the most advanced rockets built by mankind, and will take the astronauts farther than any other manned mission has previously reached.
Aside from the Mars mission, several trips near the Moon were also deployed. Researchers believed this region displays the building blocks of our Solar System, which can provide a better understanding of Mars' environment.
To ensure the safety of the humans sent to Mars, NASA is currently developing tools such as the Solar Electric Propulsion, a new way of delivering heavy cargo to further Mars missions. The agency also promised to invest in more detailed landing technology and descent tools such as Low Density Supersonic Decelerators.
The first test flight for the Orion spacecraft is scheduled for December 2014.
