"Phil Bagust" wrote in message
news
I've been thinking about the odd history of Apollo 8 and what it
actually represented in terms of breaking earth orbit and testing many
of the systems that were needed later. It was psychologically and
technically very important.

So...what do people think about a precursor manned CEV mission to orbit
the moon in a low *polar* orbit. The 'service module' could be loaded
with a bunch of sensors to survey for polar ice etc and in general all
the mapping that unmanned orbiters could do would be undertaken (cancel
them and save the cash) but the mission would also test the CEV
architecture and human crew in a lunar environment for a reasonable
length of time (2 weeks?).

The mission would actually prove that the VSE can break orbit, and it
would do useful work, unlike a cheaper, easier Zond-like loop around the
moon. It could even deploy small sub satellites or drop penetrators. Oh,
and here's the nub - it wouldn't require the heavy lifter, or the lunar
lander, just 2 sticks or 1 stick and 1 EELV and one earth orbital
docking. And it could be done years before (2015-16?) any all up landing
could be attempted considering the timelines that are being thrown
around atm that suggest no landing until 2020 at the earliest.

Any comments? Is this mission possible (I'm thinking about that plane
change to get into polar orbit and back, is that going to be a show
stopper?) and useful, and when I mean possible I mean
politically/psychologically as much as technically.

P

Interesting proposal. American Experience (PBS) program Race to the Moon
was aired on October 31st -- the story of Apollo 8. Written and Directed by
Kevin Michael Kertscher
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/moon/index.html

Technical Consultants
Andrew Chaikin
Mike Gentry
Roger Launius
Alan Anders, for animation

Note that the Bill Anders Foundation was one of several sponsors to help
underwrite this special. The Apollo 8 crew was just in Chicago 2 weeks ago
(the CM capsule is at the Museum of Science and Industry here).

Gallery of nine Apollo 8 photos
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/moon/gallery/index.html

Let me "add" an item to this mission (or related missions)

Why not land small robotic explorers (e.g. Spirit, Opportunity) on the moon
at selected sites (Apollo back-up sites or still deemed to too dangerous for
human exploration). IF this level of technology existed in 1967/1968 - it
is not unrealistic to consider that this may have been one method of landing
site determination for Apollo -- in addition or instead of Ranger and
Surveyor.

gb