As NASA looks ahead to next-generation human space exploration, it is essential to consider the cost of operations and support in order to ensure the development of affordable programs. The life-cycle costs of future exploration ventures can be reduced by focusing on the interplanetary logistics strategy. By leveraging proven supply chain management techniques from the military and commercial sectors and applying them to the unique challenges of human space exploration, space logistics can be streamlined, and mission affordability and robustness can be increased. This paper describes a modeling framework for space logistics which enables description, evaluation, and optimization of various types of logistics strategies. The framework is embodied in SpaceNet, a discrete event simulation and optimization software program.

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One of the major logistical challenges in human space exploration is asset management. This paper presents observations on the practice of asset management in support of human space flight to date and discusses a functional-based supply classification and a framework for an integrated database that could be used to improve asset management and logistics for future human missions to the Moon, Mars and beyond.

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This paper proposes a matrix-based modeling approach for analyzing spaceflight campaign logistics. A campaign is considered to be a series of coordinated flights delivering cargo at a location or node. A matrix representation of the cargo carried by flights for consumption in different time periods (or missions) is formulated. The matrix adopts specific structures based on the nature of the campaign, thereby allowing a quick visualization of the campaign logistics properties. A logistics strategy index is proposed for quantifying manifesting strategies, and a flight criticality index is defined to help in identifying important flights from a cargo-delivery perspective and aid in assessing impact of flight cancellations, failures, and delays. The method is demonstrated on a lunar outpost establishment and is also applied in modeling the logistics of the International Space Station. A manifest (M) matrix and flight dependency (D) matrix is created for crew provisions cargo delivered to the ISS over a period of 10 years. It is found that the overall logistics strategy index for crew provisions has so far been 0.85 (meaning 85% of the crew provisions cargo is prepositioned on average for each mission) and that the prepositioning is for up to a maximum of four future missions at a time.