In Space, what's old is new
 

A great little set of slides describing the next generation of NASA manned space vehicles.

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2...TELLATION.html

Going back to the old skinny, tall rocket model. The only thing it doesn't talk about is how the Orion Module will land when it returns to earth. It looks like it may be an old-school parachute into the ocean.

Cool find. It does look old school, which is fine by me, since the shuttle is boooring by now.

It's awesome enough to see a shuttle launch in person, I wonder what it's gonna be like to see an Ares V launch?

I'm vaguely planning a trip to Florida in 2010 in hopes to catch the final launch of the shuttle as I've never seen one. I'm sure it'll be insane, but worth it.

So I guess that reusable launch vehicle idea is bust

Or at least delayed until 4th generation.

Now if they'll just realize that federally-funded manned spaceflight is also a bust we can move on to a properly focused space program.

2020? God willing, and I stay healthy, we'll put a man on the moon in my lifetime.

I never thought of it that way. There hasn't been a man there since 1972, before I was born. But then again they've pretty much nailed the moon. Rocks, check. Lack of anything else, check. No reason to hang out there except for the awesome dune buggying.

China will get there first.