Could U.S. go to the Moon on the cheap?

By William Atkins
Sunday, 05 July 2009 19:40

Science - Space

Borenstein says in his SF article “This cheaper option is not as powerful as NASA's current design with its fancy new rockets, the people-carrying Ares I and cargo-lifting Ares V. But the cut-rate plan would still get to the moon.”

He adds, “The new model calls for flying lunar vehicles on something very familiar-looking - the old space shuttle system with its gigantic orange fuel tank and twin solid-rocket boosters, minus the shuttle itself. There are two new vehicles this rocket would carry - one generic cargo container, the other an Apollo-like capsule for astronaut travel. Those new vehicles could both go to the moon or the international space station.”

Because these alternative options are being brought up at this time, both within NASA and outside of the organization, it is being thought that the proposed (already over-budget) Constellation program is being seriously questioned by members of the U.S. Congress and other experts in the space industry.

In fact, the Constellation program is being officially analyzed by a White House committee (the U.S. Human Spaceflight Review Committee), headed by Norman Augustine (a former aerospace executive) as to its feasibility and cost.

Check out the June 5, 2009 iTWire article "Think you have better way to get NASA to Moon? Speak up!", which talks about the Committee and inputs the public can make.

Keith Cowing, who runs the Nasawatch.com website, stated, "They [NASA] are hedging their bets. It clearly reflects some doubts among senior agency folks in the overall veracity of their current approach."

Cowing adds, "NASA believes the best plan is to fully fund the current architecture.... This does not indicate a lack of confidence in or support for the current program."

Nasawatch.com has a video of the Shannon plan at “NASA Shuttle-derived Sidemount Heavy Launch Vehicle Concept.”

The article with the video states, “With the infrastructure and investment made in the STS [Space Transportation System, or the space shuttle fleet) over nearly 40 years, it is simply stupid to abandon, as we did the Saturn V, proven technologies.”

And, “The Russians have long proven the value and benefit of an evolutionary approach to space exploration; we need to adopt the same mindset.”

Page three discusses another plan, called the DIRECT proposal.