Though I support the use of air launch for the CEV, if NASA does insist on going with the "throw everything on a heavy rocket and haul it up there" approach, I wish they would unify the launch vehicle development with Russia, and instead of bringing Energia back, I think they should concentrate on making the Soyuz into a heavy lifter. Sure the Russians are working on Onega, not sure if this is enough to shoot us to the Moon. <br />Even though Boeing, Lockheed, and NASA claims that their launch vehicle, (Delta IV, Atlas V, Shuttle) is the safest, most reliable, and most used vehicle, the only vehicle that can truly make this claim is the Soyuz. The Soyuz has launched over 1700 times, Boeing and Lockheed cannot make this claim. And the Shuttle, which has even hit the 150 mark, comes no where near the feat of 1700 launches. And lately, we haven't heard of too many Soyuz failures, hell I don't even know when the last one was. The SOyuz also has many variants. The heavy lift will be available for the Moon, but there are lighter versions for LEO missions. Thus, NASA will have a wide selection of possible launch vehicles for a given mission.<br />This will be a true test of the extent of the "not made here mentality" of NASA, and to see if they will forget that mentality when they are looking at a good deal. This is why NASA constantly frustrates me. It seems the private market goes with what ever is the best deal. They look to find the most innovatibe and cost efficient means to launch a vehicle. Just look at the T/Space design. However, NASA, when designing a new vehicle looks at one thing, how to keep Lockheed, Boeing, and the centers relying on the Shuttle happy. It doesn't matter if it is the most expensive, overall bad idea, if it gives business to Boeing and Lockheed, and keeps the Shuttle system going, NASA will go with it.