Author Description

It has been more than 22 years since our last manned expedition to the moon. Since that time, our once pristine civilian space program, as represented by NASA, has atrophied into little more than a very expensive "Space Trucking System", occasionally dabbling in exploration. What NASA needs is an infusion of new life and a new challenge to get it back on track. The space program needs a directed purpose. Returning to the Moon to complete the scientific exploration started, and to exploit the rich resources of the Moon, particularly in nuclear and electrical power, is a doable/achievable, worthwhile goal. It can be done by forming an international space consortium to share costs, risks and benefits, and using off-the-shelf technology and hardware. The Space Shuttle will carry an advanced lunar module and crew capsule to Low Earth Orbit (LEO). A Russian Proton rocket will deliver a modified version of the Centaur Upper Stage booster into coorbit with the Shuttle. They will rendezvous and the Centaur will propel the lunar module to the Moon. Subsequent activity will proceed similar to Apollo and the astronauts will return safely to Earth for direct entry. This system will allow establishment of a permanent lunar outpost and will serve as a test station for a follow-on mission to explore Mars.