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NASA plans to issue a Request for Proposal for a 6000 lbf thrust LOX/LCH4 restartable engine for its lunar lander:<br /><br />Synopsis from the GRC Business Opportunities site<br /><br />To me this indicates the lander could mass approximately 16 tons on the way down and 8 tons on the way up, if using the same engine both ways. The Apollo lander massed 14.7 tons down and 4.5 up.<br /><br />Considering the indicated target ISP of 355s, useful payload could be approximately 5.8 tons down and 2.9 tons up. The Apollo lander could fery 4.5 tons down and 1.5 tons up.<br /><br />Considering the Apollo lander was designed to carry two astronauts, it is conceivable that the current lunar lander be designed for 4. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><em>“An error does not become a mistake until you refuse to correct it.” John F. Kennedy</em></p> </div>