When America returns to the moon, four astronauts will ride in Orion to lunar orbit and then all of them will move into the Altair lunar lander to go explore the moon.
The new lunar lander will be similarly improved, with updated electronics and materials.
They will also use simulators to learn how to dock with the ISS and how to fly the new lunar lander, Altair, down to the moon's surface.
By 2020, Orion will be paired with the lunar lander Altair.
Considering the condition of China lunar exploration, a plan for its lunar lander's configuration is proposed.
A so-called Earth Departure stage and Altair lunar lander would sit atop the core stage and be launched into orbit to meet Orion spacecraft carrying moon-bound astronauts.
The larger of the two will loft the lunar lander and other equipment into Earth orbit.
Dock and Roll: an artist's rendering of NASA's Altair lunar lander approaching the Orion crew capsule after a lunar mission NASA.
The lunar lander challenge is good news for NASA, because it can now count on groups of potential suppliers and experienced engineers to build any future moon lander.
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