T.S. Baldwin invented the parachute - lived over in Quincy, sometimes - had the privilege of going through his papers a few years back with his granddaughter - worked with Montgomery, developed first US dirigible, worked with Curtiss, developed first metal framed aircraft, did reconnaisance of European aviation prior to First World War, founded naval aviation training center at Norfolk, trained nearly all of early US military aviation leaders, worked on passenger dirigibles after the first world war - personal life interesting...

now to the topic at hand. Docking and fuel transfer are proven technologies, and more than men have to be landed on the Moon to do useful work - which is the reason for going. A small station in lunar orbit also provides another abort option, thus contributing significantly to safety -

ep