[unibrowshift9b20]

Hey, I just read somewhere, somebody talking about a continual shuttle between Luna and earth. We couldn't really use it enough at first to be viable, but it does make me ask why exactly our reentry capsule needs to go to the moon. What if they launched in the capsule, docked with a lander and inflatable habitat, transferred whatever they needed to the inflatable module, which becomes the command module, and be off to the moon, without all that heat shield dead weight. Then come back and take your capsule back down. Hey, if you had some extra fuel on the inflatable and lander, you could leave it in orbit for the next people.

[unibrowshift9b20]

Hey, yeah! And that means your capsule can just cram the people in and save on the capsule mass, since it'll only be for a day or so until they transfer, then they can get what they need into the inflatable module. You could even make the lander itself inflatable, at least for the crew area. That would be awesome! A compromise between the need for extra volume, less mass, and a solid reentry capsule. You'd also need a service module that sticks with the inflatable module. And seperate ascent and descent stages.

The key is to take as little mass as you can and only as far as you need it.


\ _v_ / <-struts, engine bell
\[___]/ <- fuel, solid part of lander
| |
|_____| <-inflatable lander
_[ ]_
| |
| | <- inflatable command module
| |
|_____|
(_[_]_) <- docking module, surrounded by service module
^/ \^ <-rockets
/ \ <- capsule
-----
|___| <- short capsule service module
/_\ <- engine bell