Hello Nick -

My architecture differs from this one and is far cheaper. The only reason I mentioned it was to put to rest the mis-conception that some (okay, Eby) were promoting that a new heavy lift launcher was required for manned lunar missions.

(To say the least, I would have no objection if "some" in the manned Mars community were to suggest testing out any manned Mars system by using it to set up a Moon-based impactor detection facility.)

Unlike this General Dynamics proposal, I do not propose to land the capsule heat shield on the Moon and then launch it back to Earth.

Instead, my proposal integrates 5 architectural elements. First, like the General Dynamics proposal, I suggest launching the lunar transfer booster separate from the manned capsule and return booster. Second, instead of direct flight, I propose using a facility in lunar orbit, similar to several Soviet architectures. Third, I propose using this facility to enable fuel transfers (a Soviet technology), which enables architectural element four, a landing frame (I haven't foudn out yet who thought of this first) for tranfers from lunar orbit to the surface of the Moon. Five, I propose using a long range work vehicle instead of a fixed base.

http://www.geocities.com/epgrondine

EP