FYI,

"Taking the Vision to the Next Step"
NASA
http://www.nasa.gov/missions/solarsystem/vision_concepts.html

: NASA is taking the next steps in moving The Vision for Space
: Exploration from concept to reality. Working with the best in the
: aerospace industry, the agency is already exploring and refining
: the concepts that will help America return to the Moon, and
: ultimately travel to Mars and beyond.

: On Sept. 1, 2004, NASA tapped 11 companies (list at left) to
: conduct preliminary concept studies for human lunar exploration and
: the development of the crew exploration vehicle.

: "These study contracts reflect NASA's new commitment to find the
: best outside expertise that will work in partnerships to benefit
: the nation's goals for space exploration," said retired Navy Rear
: Adm. Craig E. Steidle, Associate Administrator of NASA's
: Exploration Systems Mission Directorate.

: "We are developing a sustained and affordable human and robotic
: program that will explore the solar system and beyond. We will
: accomplish this using the same ingenuity, commitment and unwavering
: determination that forged the success of the Apollo program," said
: Steidle.

: Each of the contractors has presented unique ideas about the space
: transportation systems needed for future journeys. You can explore
: the presentations yourself, or visit the companies' Web sites, by
: clicking the links below.

: Andrews Space: 2.3 Mb PDF
http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/65842main_andrews.pdf

: Boeing: 1.5 Mb PDF
http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/65843main_boeing.pdf

: Draper/MIT team: 1.4 Mb PDF
http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/65844main_draper.pdf

: Lockheed-Martin: 2.1 Mb PDF
http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/65845main_lockmart.pdf

: Northrop Grumman: 1.7 Mb PDF
http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/65846main_norgrumm.pdf

: Orbital Sciences: 1.2 Mb PDF
http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/65847main_orbital.pdf

: Raytheon: 1.1 Mb PDF
http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/65848main_raytheon.pdf

: SAIC: 1.6 Mb PDF
http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/65849main_saic.pdf

: Schafer: 1.6 Mb PDF
http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/65850main_schafer.pdf

: Spacehab: 1.4 Mb PDF
http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/65851main_spacehab.pdf

: tSpace: 6.7 PDF
http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/65852main_tSpace.pdf

Mark Reiff