Posted on 07/05/2005 5:47:50 PM PDT by KevinDavis
WASHINGTON – NASA is set to begin rolling out the results of a landmark space exploration architecture study that calls for building an Apollo-like astronaut capsule and conducting up to six lunar sorties per year using rocket hardware derived from the space shuttle.
Sixty days in the making, the Exploration Systems Architecture Study will go a long way toward defining the approach and the hardware NASA will use to return astronauts to the Moon by 2020, and eventually go on to Mars.
That hardware includes the so-called Crew Exploration Vehicle (CEV) and the rockets that will be needed to loft both the CEV and huge amounts of cargo that will be needed to establish a sustainable astronaut presence on the lunar surface.
Long before being named NASA administrator this spring, Mike Griffin was on the record saying that he thought the United States ought to take maximum advantage of existing space shuttle hardware and infrastructure in building the new launchers.
In public speeches, congressional testimony and interviews since being sworn in, Griffin has made clear that he still believes shuttle-derived launchers are the way to go, not just for the really big Moon-bound cargo payloads but also for the CEV, whose destinations are to include lunar orbit and the international space station.
(Excerpt) Read more at space.com ...
Up to six lunar flights a year, that will be incredible if they pull it off.
Yes, finally. But why is that JFk proposed putting a man on the moon in ten years, we did it in nine, and now it'll take us 15 years to go back?
Well, it's a government project. What a surprise, huh? And this time they even get to reuse existing hardware.
I just hope that people are willing to accept the fact that there will be accidents and deaths. It's the nature of exploration.
Hire Rutan, he'd do it in 5 years, at half the cost.
I think it was short term than a long term...
because, as of right now, we are not dealing with a super power contest for control of the "high fronteir." If the news about Chinese ambitions is accurate it will be evident in very few years and we'll be able to mount the Apollo / Manhatten Project type effort to get us there sooner.
We cannot let the perfect be the enemy of the 'good enough.'
Though I probably won't be around for the climax in 15 years I really don't think it matters if it's 10 or 15. So long as we're going.
And I agree with you: "finally!!!!!!!"
Hopefully they won't accept gross mismanagement as was the case with the two shuttle disasters.
"Hopefully they won't accept gross mismanagement as was the case with the two shuttle disasters."
Absolutely.
Whats the gravity compaired to Earth on the moon? That will determine the structure they can set up..unless they put it underground, which is the best idea.
Moon gravity is roughly 15% of Earth's.
Basically if you weight 400 pounds on Earth, you will weigh 15% of 400 on the moon...
Thanks go to China for reminding us that we put our flag there first.
So, Michael Moore would weigh only 400 lbs on the moon.
Yep
--Boris
New math :-?
Let me explicate. Apollo cost $27 billion, in ~1969 dollars. Nixon devalued the dollar in 1971; a dollar was 1/35 of an ounce of gold; now gold is over $400 per oz; every dollar in your pocket is worth less than a dime. All the suppliers are gone or out of the space business. Our technology is better but all the greybeards are retired or dead. Summary: to return to the Moon a la Apollo: $250 billion in 2005 dollars. Ain't gonna happen while the WOT is absorbing billions.
--Boris
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