Orion (spacecraft) to the Moon - NASA (Animation)

I said the same thing ,but now I understand why not. The technology available right now doesn't allows us to do that. Still, how knows maybe in the future when we go to Mars we might be able.

It seems sad that we can't put the International Space Station to use for Moon exploration. Does anyone know whether the feasibility of having one vehicle (say, a revamped space shuttle) to travel between Earth and ISS, and a separate "moon shuttle" going between ISS & the Moon, was ever seriously discussed?

As blablubb said, the idea of "adjusting" the shuttle for travel to the Moon is an absolute non-starter. The shuttle was made for low-Earth orbit, & I don't think there's ever been a launch vehicle that could get a payload the size of the shuttle to the Moon.

But I agree that it's a bit depressing that, after 40 years, it seems we've just taken all the Apollo concepts and Super-Sized them.

A capsule + seperate lander is the perfect combination for such a trip. It was the best choice back in the 60s and still is today. Flying the shuttle to the moon is practically impossible and you would still have to carry a lander with you.

One thing I don't like that NASA is doing for the R.T.M. is the fact that they're going to use a capsule and a landing vehicale simaler to the Appolo's. If you ask me, I think NASA should just adjust the space shuttle for landing on the Moon. To me it would make sence to do that because, they're going to use this to go to Mars.

"Why do we have to wait til 2020 till we go back on the Moon? Why not sooner?"

Because the vehicles being used for this trip are still largely untested. It's not safe to send humans in untested vehicles and untested off-the-shelf technology. NASA learned its less with the Apollo 1 disaster about rushing human crews into untested vehicles. When you rush stuff like the Apollo 1 and Challenger tragedies happen.

Why do we have to wait til 2020 till we go back on the Moon? Why not sooner? That's a 50 year gap ffs. This is ridiculous, when is the space industry going to move forward? When are we actually going to do something that matters. By now we should be colonizing the Moon and sending people to Mars.

You have to respect Richard Branson for taking the first step towards space tourism, at least Virgin are actually DOING something... unlike NASA and ESA.

"because you wouldn't get me within 150 miles of that thing."

LOL! Well, I originally wanted to be an astronaut so I would love to hop on inside the Orion as long as the vehicle and the rocket had been thoroughly tested.

"NASA= need another seven Astronauts"

Ares/Orion-Altair is nowhere near as dangerous as the Mercury capsule and the Mercury Redstone and Atlas rockets. That's like comparing a Model T-Ford to a Toyota Prius.

as long as it works I don't give a S**t , because you wouldn't get me within 150 miles of that thing. NASA= need another seven Astronauts.

LastReplaySC - If you think the Ares I 5-segment SRB is no more advanced than the 4-segment Space Shuttle SRB you are crazy. And the Ares V uses 6 RS-68 engines, not outdated Saturn J-2 engines.

Shuttles are not appropriate for manned landing missions.

ARES 1 = 1 shuttle booster 80's tech
ARES 5 = 1 Saturn 5 engine 60's tech + 2 shuttle booster

This sound like NASA has lost all skill's & brains to develop new stuff, kinda desperate attempted to meet the time frame in the most cheapest manner while re-learning old and lost skills

Yeah, it also cant leave earth's gravity well for those reasons.

All this so we can have some clown stumbling on the moon?

the space shuttle is schedule to retire in 2010 for the Orion mission

First of all this design is better than the Space Shuttle because it is faster and more efficiant, plus it is the only one that will bring us to the moon. The Space Shuttle is not designed for the moon.
A correction to the video - Ares V is not the CREW launch vehicle, it is the Cargo launch. THE CREW LAUNCHER IS ARES 1.