NASA taking different approach to moon in latest plans

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — When the lunar module from Apollo 11 touched down on the moon's surface 35 years ago today, it seemed as if that trip to the final frontier had begun at last.

The United States would not only keep going to the moon, it would build rockets even bigger than the Saturn 5 and get men to Mars in another decade.

But there would be only six moon landings and one nail-biting abort: Apollo 13.

Apollo proved NASA could send astronauts to the moon and return them safely to Earth.

Now, as return trips to the moon are envisioned for the first time since 1972, missions will be aimed at more than planting flagpoles and rock collecting.

The moon will serve as a proving ground for subsequent human expeditions to Mars, asteroids and other destinations in the solar system. And while there is no hard deadline for moving beyond the moon, there also is no Apollo-like blank check.

NASA is under orders to live within its current share of the federal budget — 0.7 percent, or less than a penny of every dollar taxpayers send to Washington each year. That's a fraction of the 4 percent share it consumed during the Apollo project.

Consequently, NASA Space Architect Gary Martin said, the agency is "looking at a whole new approach."

In fact, a presidential commission last month said NASA must radically change its business practices — methods largely inherited from the Apollo program — to carry out an agenda outlined by President Bush on Jan. 14.

Bush called for NASA to complete construction of the International Space Station by 2010 and then retire its aging shuttle fleet. Robotic scouts would begin flying precursor moon missions by 2008; a new crew exploration vehicle would replace shuttles by 2014; and astronauts would return to the lunar surface between 2015 and 2020.

Exactly how NASA will execute the plan is unknown.

The agency is mulling over industry ideas for the new spaceship as well as lunar exploration missions. The proposals include concepts for crew and cargo transports, launch vehicles, lunar landing and surface systems, and robotic scouts and rovers.

In September, at least two companies will be awarded contracts worth up to $6 million to carry out more in-depth studies.

This much, however, already is clear.

NASA will enlist private companies to a greater degree than ever before, turning over relatively routine jobs — such as the launch of cargoes into low Earth orbit — to either established or entrepreneurial firms.

The launch of cargoes also will be separated from the launch of astronaut crews, a move that is expected to save the agency money. The reason: Cargo-only vehicles do not require the type of extensive and expensive backup systems needed on those carrying crews.