> Right, which is where he loses me--this is not why we have a Gateway. I am just an everyday armchair astronaut, so please correct me where I'm wrong, but I f

> Right, which is where he loses me--this is not why we have a Gateway. I am just an everyday armchair astronaut, so please correct me where I'm wrong, but I figured: 1) A lunar lander does not have the delta-v for direct return to earth, from the lunar surface. (or the heat shielding) (2) Part of the Gateway's function is similar to Apollo's Command Module. A place for the lander to dock upon return, and facilitate return to earth. I can see how Gateway differs from Apollo's Command Module, in that it does not return to Earth, but stays in lunar orbit. This does test Mars-like endurance, and is cool. Orion will detach from Gateway, and return independently, right? But why the near-rectilinear halo orbit, which puts the lifeboat capability out reach sometimes? If an astronaut needs something like an appendix removed (random example,) then a few days waiting for Gateway to swing by could make a difference. edit: Oh, near-rectilinear halo orbit also makes it easier for Orion to return to Earth, right? So maybe he said that Orion lacks the delta-v, not SLS. Maybe that helps explain it.