Rockets that could be used:
Falcon Heavy
New Glenn
SLS Block 1
Starship
Vulcan
NASA's architecture would be SLS launching Orion to a partially finished LOP-G. The astronauts use LOP-G to transfer to a lander that was delivered earlier by a commercial rocket. The lander lands on the moon, lets the astronauts have a day or so down there, and then part of the lander returns back to LOP-G. The astronauts return to Orion and then return to Earth for splashdown.
SpaceX's architecture would be launching a Starship with astronauts into orbit and then refuelling it over and over until it is in a highly elliptical orbit with full tanks. It then launches to the moon, lands, and can come back when desired. Astronauts ride the starship back down for a rocket powered landing. The multiple refueling events make this a very complicated mission for 2024.
New Glenn would be launching the blue moon lander. Either this would be used with the NASA plan or it would be used with Blue Origin's own capsule.
Vulcan with ACES would be able to basically do anything. Could be used to launch landers to LOP-G, could be used as a lander if XEUS is revived, could be a space tug between LEO and LLO, etc.
In general LOP-G or another orbiting station makes the most sense. Direct ascent takes a much larger rocket and even SpaceX could benefit from avoiding it. A tempt station could work though, similar to how the Apollo missions worked. Launch Orion into LEO and dock with an ACES upper stage and a lander. Then that could move out to lunar orbit, let the lander drop down and come back, and then let Orion on its own come back.
NASA moon landing: ACSC commercial competition to build human landers
Falcon Heavy
New Glenn
SLS Block 1
Starship
Vulcan
NASA's architecture would be SLS launching Orion to a partially finished LOP-G. The astronauts use LOP-G to transfer to a lander that was delivered earlier by a commercial rocket. The lander lands on the moon, lets the astronauts have a day or so down there, and then part of the lander returns back to LOP-G. The astronauts return to Orion and then return to Earth for splashdown.
SpaceX's architecture would be launching a Starship with astronauts into orbit and then refuelling it over and over until it is in a highly elliptical orbit with full tanks. It then launches to the moon, lands, and can come back when desired. Astronauts ride the starship back down for a rocket powered landing. The multiple refueling events make this a very complicated mission for 2024.
New Glenn would be launching the blue moon lander. Either this would be used with the NASA plan or it would be used with Blue Origin's own capsule.
Vulcan with ACES would be able to basically do anything. Could be used to launch landers to LOP-G, could be used as a lander if XEUS is revived, could be a space tug between LEO and LLO, etc.
In general LOP-G or another orbiting station makes the most sense. Direct ascent takes a much larger rocket and even SpaceX could benefit from avoiding it. A tempt station could work though, similar to how the Apollo missions worked. Launch Orion into LEO and dock with an ACES upper stage and a lander. Then that could move out to lunar orbit, let the lander drop down and come back, and then let Orion on its own come back.
NASA moon landing: ACSC commercial competition to build human landers
