To Slip the Surely Bonds of Earth

Note: Under Construction

In 1970 NASA had a choice to make, they could either gamble everything on the Space Shuttle which promised low cost, routine launches every week, or they could continue the Skylab Space Station program and the Apollo Lunar Landings, offering the advantage of building on existing hardware and experience. Ultimatley NASA chose the Space Shuttle and we suffer the results of that decision to this day. But what about the path not taken? Would it be better or worse? You be the judge.

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1970: With the last vestige of Thomas O. Paines Space Transportation System, the Space Shuttle, now confined to the wayside of history NASA became confined to use Apollo Hardare for their Human Spaceflight program. With Budget's shrinking NASA opted to continue the Skylab Program with a new Space Station launched every few years and four manned missions launched to it each year. The missions would simply continue the Apollo CSM being launched on the Saturn IB (although with the possibility of upgrades later on). Apollo Lunar landings would continue at the orignal rate of two per year although with all follow up plans cancelled for budgetary reasons.

1971: Apollo 14 and 15

1972: Apollo 16 and 17

1973: Apollo 18, 19, Skylab 2, Skylab, 3, Skylab 4.

1974: Apollo 20, 21, Skylab 5, Skylab 6, Skylab 7, Skylab 8.

1975: Apollo 21, 22, Skylab 9, Skylab 7, Skylab 8, Skylab 9.

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January 31st: 1971: Apollo 14 Alan Shepard, Commander

Edgar Mitchell, Lunar Module Pilot

Stuart Roosa, Command Module Pilot

July 26 1971: Apollo 15

David Scott, Commander

Jim Irwin, Lunar Module Pilot

Al Worden, Command Module Pilot

April 16, 1972: Apollo 16

John Young, Commander

Charlie Duke, Lunar Module Pilot

Ken Mattingly, Command Module Pilot

December 7, 1972: Apollo 17

Gene Cernan, Commander

Jack Schmitt, Lunar Module Pilot

Ron Evans, Command Module Pilot

February 4, 1973: Apollo 18

Richard F. Gordon Jr, Commander

Vance D. Brand, Command Module Pilot

Harrison Schmitt, Lunar Module Pilot

April 17, 1973: Apollo 19

Fred Haise Commander

William R. Pogue Command Module Pilot Gerald P. Carr Lunar Module Pilot

July 8, 1974: Apollo 20

Stuart Roosa, Commander

Paul J. Weitz, Command Module Pilot

Jack R. Lousma, Lunar Module Pilot

September 18, 1974: Apollo 21

Edgar Mitchell, Commander

Pete Conrad, Command Module Pilot

Don L. Lind, Lunar Module Pilot