Abstract

A First Lunar Outpost (FLO) concept intended to establish an initial foot-hold on the moon via a modest outpost, with teams of four astronauts staying at the facility up to six weeks at a time, is presented. In the FLO scenario the entire return spacecraft would descend to the lunar surface with the full crew of four. Should problems arise, the astronauts could make a quick getaway at any time. Three possible launch vehicles are considered to meet the needs of the FLO mission, namely, the Saturn V launch vehicle which propelled Apollo to the moon, a derivative of the now cancelled National Launch System, and an uprated version of Russia's Energiay launch vehicle.