The first trip to the Moon in 2018 would begin with the launch of the lunar lander and the Earth departure stage on new Shuttle-derived launch vehicle, powered by two five-segment solid rocket boosters and five Shuttle main engines lifting up to 125t.
A second launch would follow within 30 days. This crew launch vehicle, a 25t-lifter powered by a reusable solid rocket booster first stage and new upper stage equipped with a Shuttle main engine, would carry NASA’s planned new spacecraft – the four- to six-person Crew Exploration Vehicle (CEV). The CEV, which includes the command module and service module, would rendezvous in Earth orbit with the departure stage and lunar lander.
The CEV would remain in orbit around the Moon while the astronauts descend to the lunar surface, using a descent stage powered by liquid oxygen/liquid hydrogen. After four to seven days, a liquid oxygen/methane ascent stage would rendezvous the lander with the CEV for the return voyage.
Upon re-entry, the CEV would jettison the service module into the Pacific Ocean. Then, the Apollo-like ballistic CEV capsule would make a soft landing in the California desert at Edwards AFB, with the intention of reusing as much as possible of the airframe and vehicle subsystems.
Source: Flight International
