Shuttle Derived Launchers

Instead of the Delta IV Heavy or Atlas EEV's, it appears NASA is headed in the direction of using current Shuttle architecture and systems to get back into space quickly:
www.safesimplesoon.com...
Recents statements by new NASA chief Griffin seem to support this idea.
Seems to be a plan to keep current contractors and NASA employees busy.

Robert Zubrin's "The Case for Mars" (HIGHLY recommended) lays out a plan for using modified shuttle lifters for launching payloads to Mars. I have no doubt they could also be used to get to the moon.

I wonder if a cluster of 3-5 shuttle SRBs could lift the shuttle liquid fuel tank to orbit? Several such launches would put a LOT of fuel in orbit, which a "trans lunar/trans martian" module could dock with and use to get to those locations.

Capsules make more sense than lifting bodies; sending useful payload into orbit rather than dead weight. Modularity makes a lot of sense as well, allowing for the tailoring of componants into different craft for different missions. I think this is what Mike Griffin has in mind:
www.safesimplesoon.com/media-images.htm

A better, safer, cheaper idea for manned flight is what Rutan is working on:
www.t/space.com.

The best idea is to leave people on the ground and let nanobots do the job, but I won't start that fight again.