[jyl]

I'd be interested in thoughts or information about NASA's plans for the next generation of manned vehicles.

I gather the Space Shuttle will be retired, and some years later NASA plans to have ready the Constellation system, including the Orion crew capsule, Ares launch vehicles, a lunar lander, and some other vehicles.

Can anyone discuss the advantages of the Constellation system over alternative designs, what alternative designs were considered, and the purpose and capabilities of the Constellation?

My snap impression is that the Shuttle was designed to ferry people and payloads to orbit, while the Constellation is designed to also reach the moon, hence the very different
designs. I'm not sure what I think about the rather "retro" appearance (Apollo-like) of the Constellation, but I understand that fashion isn't the point here.