Completely unnecessary. With the right booster, the shuttle without
*any*
> modifications could easily reach lunar orbit. The shuttle has already
> proven
> it has the capacity to handle a crew of 8 for 19 days. If we cut the crew
> down
> to 5, the shuttle could stay in orbit for over a month.
>
Is the limited time for a crew a supply problem, or is it something else. If
it is supplies, couldn't you send up an un-personed bundle of life
supporting stuff (food, water, air), seperately, and have people grab it up
there, and so keep them going far longer if necessary (eg: long enough to
start extracting H20 from the moon)?
Emlyn, ignoramus