Back to the moon
NASA announced their new proposed launch vehicles to replace the Shuttle.
Their plan replaces the Shuttle with two vehicles: one for crew transport that can put 25 tons into orbit and a heavy lift vehicle that can put 106 tons into orbit, both based on Shuttle main engines and solid rocket boosters.
Either can be used to supply the ISS. To reach the moon they'll launch both vehicles (an enlarged Apollo style capsule launched on the crew transport and a lunar departure stage from the heavy lift vehicle) and dock on orbit: Apollo writ large. It certainly looks like a better idea than the Shuttle.
Their plan replaces the Shuttle with two vehicles: one for crew transport that can put 25 tons into orbit and a heavy lift vehicle that can put 106 tons into orbit, both based on Shuttle main engines and solid rocket boosters.
Either can be used to supply the ISS. To reach the moon they'll launch both vehicles (an enlarged Apollo style capsule launched on the crew transport and a lunar departure stage from the heavy lift vehicle) and dock on orbit: Apollo writ large. It certainly looks like a better idea than the Shuttle.