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I think problems will arise if an old design is revived (say, the F-1, the production for which could be restarted), partly because of the mindless pursuit of the new, but also, and mainly, because of the political struggle over where the components would be built. We already know where the Dims stand -- against human spaceflight, particularly a return to the Moon. Von Braun's model was a step by step approach: learn how to do each job needed to get to (ultimately) Mars. First, get to space and reenter; then orbit; then spacewalking; then rendezvous; then docking; then a trip around the Moon and back; then test the landing vehicle and safe return; then land, plant the flag, grab some rocks, and safe return; then repeat the process a number of times.

All of that will also have to be redone, probably in simulators using CGI.

Von Braun's human mission to Mars would have involved twelve Saturn V launches to assemble in LEO and send it on its way. Of course, it would have merely begun the process of getting there. The first mission might have been crewed, but would have been an orbit-and-return. Then again, perhaps Apollo missions (including 18 through 21, which were scrapped) would have been judged to have provided a sufficient base of experience for an immediate landing mission.

Saturn 5 Blueprints Safely in Storage
space.com | 13 March 2000 | By Michael Paine
Posted on 01/08/2004 2:20:33 PM PST by Dead Dog
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1054183/posts