Benefits of Introducing MBSE Early into NASA’s Lifecycle Phases for the Moon to Mars Architecture

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) Moon to Mars (M2M) architecture is the roadmap for long-term exploration. It sets the course for humanity’s future in space exploration, guiding NASA’s missions from lunar surface operations to the first steps on Mars and the journey beyond. NASA’s M2M Enterprise is a dynamic, complex, and continuously evolving architecture that includes collaboration with partners in industry, academia, and the international community. While significant progress has been made, with key milestones such as the successful launch of Artemis I in 2022, much work remains to develop the new capabilities needed to achieve the Agency’s ambitious goals and objectives. As NASA forges ahead, the Agency is consistently conceptualizing and developing innovative systems to enhance the effectiveness of the overall architecture and meet these objectives. Historically, the early stages of system development have been document-centric, relying heavily on Microsoft Office tools to compile preliminary data and analysis. This approach has led to the creation of extensive paper trails, often resulting in inefficiencies and fragmented collaboration. To accelerate development timelines and enhance communication among teams, a shift away from these document-based methods is needed. This paper outlines a Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) approach aimed at transforming the initial phases of NASA programs and projects. The approach includes a seed model designed for reusability across different concept maturation teams, offering a more integrated, collaborative, and efficient development process. The initial application of the seed model, along with key insights gained, excluding sensitive information, are detailed to convey the importance in continuing to establish this forward trajectory into a model-centric paradigm.