[Frank_Discussion]

Go to the site I posted, and you'll be able to see the "Reference Mission" which currently uses the Shuttle to deliver hardware to Low Earth Orbit (LEO) for later travle to the Moon.

The Shuttle is NOT a good platform to modify for Lunar transit and exploration. Even with all the control surfaces removed, it is far too heavy for any propulsion technology available.

[Paradox]

The Shuttle is NOT a good platform to modify for Lunar transit and exploration. Even with all the control surfaces removed, it is far too heavy for any propulsion technology available.

Way to heavy indeed. The layman might confuse weight with mass, and while the Shuttle is "weightless" out there in space (orbit), its mass is the same as on the ground, and it is a heavy mofo.