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c. Largely decoupled strategy, in which human and robotic exploration of the solar system proceed in parallel, but are not tightly linked programmatically.
6. What is the role that space technology research and development will play?
a. The role of a supporting technology development program closely coupled to the design of the flight system;
b. The role of developing alternative technology that enhances functionality and lower operations cost;
c. The role of developing new technologies that enable new destinations and modes of exploration.

These six questions can be examined individually in trade studies, but we have decided on an alternative approach - to construct several scenarios for detailed study. The construction of these scenarios can be best explained by constructing an expanded Morphological Matrix, which lists in the left two columns the decisions and choices associated with each decision, and then in the remaining columns the selected choices associated with the definition of the scenario. The matrix is shown below as Table 1.

The two columns called ESAS and Current Program map this decision space onto the program that emerged from the 2005 ESAS study, and a snapshot of the current program of record. ESAS was a 60-day study of limited scope but significant depth. At least conceptually it supported exploration of the Moon and then Mars, and did so with a set of extended duration sorties and eventually a base. The role of internationals was not discussed, but the underlying assumption was that a program within US capacity should be developed. Likewise the role of commercial entities was not explored. ESAS focused on the human exploration program, and did not integrate with the robotic plans going forward. Technology choices were made that would allow development of the systems by the exploitation of a supporting development program, what has become ETDP, the Exploration Technology Development Program.

The current program of record is in a bit of flux as it responds to changing budgets and other external factors. While as a matter of record the program supports lunar and Mars exploration, the vast proportion of the work is focused on an outpost in the south polar region of the Moon. Extended sorties are carried out as an option. Like in ESAS, technology plays a supporting role, and the technology program is tightly coupled to the flight program. In the five years since ESAS, ESMD and NASA have engaged the international community in the Global Exploration Strategy process, which seeks to include internationals while maintaining a leading role for the US. Through the development of COTS and CRS, the commercial space community has been given an important enhancing role in the launch to LEO sector, nominally freeing up funds for exploration.