Great Info from Cowing on launcher selection
http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewnews.html?id=1055
As usual, plenty of information, but little perspective.
Essentially, ATK persuaded ESMD that 125 ton launchers were necessary, which is not true for either manned Moon or manned Mars. The key here is architectures, and neither Langley nor Houston were consulted here.
ATK has not provided a reason for sending men to the Moon or Mars.
Now how has ozone depletion been going since the Columbia grounding?