Le Zond?

[google blew up when I tried to post. So this may be a repeat.]

Why does the Sietzen/Cowing UPI article mention Ariane as an interim
launcher for the moon/mars program? Why not a heavy EELV or Proton?
Are they thinking of a lunar orbiter mission using Ariane 5/Soyuz?
(In which case I propose the program name "Le Zond.")

Just seems strange to fixate on the Ariane.

Patrick

(Patrick Underwood) wrote in message om...
[google blew up when I tried to post. So this may be a repeat.]

Why does the Sietzen/Cowing UPI article mention Ariane as an interim
launcher for the moon/mars program? Why not a heavy EELV or Proton?
Are they thinking of a lunar orbiter mission using Ariane 5/Soyuz?
(In which case I propose the program name "Le Zond.")


I suspect this is mostly about ISS support by Soyuz/Progress
and Ariane/ATV after shuttle is retired, which must be set
to happen as soon as the last module is sent up. Meanwhile,
the U.S. will be working on Crew Exploration Vehicle (CEV),
or whatever it will be called. To me, it sounds like no
funding has been assigned to sending anyone to the Moon, or
anywhere else outside of low earth orbit for that matter, on
any vehicle, anytime soon.

- Ed Kyle