The Orion capsule and its service module, a component built by the European Space Agency to provide power and propulsion, would ride to orbit on one rocket. A fueled rocket stage for propelling Orion to the moon would go up separately. Mr. Bridenstine noted that Orion currently lacks the ability to dock with another spacecraft in orbit. “Between now and June of 2020, we would have to make that a reality,” Mr. Bridenstine said. At the hearing, Mr. Bridenstine continued to describe the big NASA rocket as a core component of the space agency’s plans.

Source: New York Times March 13, 2019 19:41 UTC