Altair (spacecraft)

Altair
	Artist's impression of the crewed version of Altair on the surface of the Moon
Names	Lunar Surface Access Module (LSAM)
Operator	NASA
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft type	Lander
Launch mass	45,864 kg (101,113 lb)
Payload mass	14,500 kg (32,000 lb)
Start of mission
Rocket	Ares V
Launch site	Kennedy LC-39A
Orbital parameters
Reference system	Selenocentric
	Constellation program

The Altair spacecraft, previously known as the Lunar Surface Access Module or LSAM, was the planned lander spacecraft component of NASA's cancelled Constellation program. Astronauts would have used the spacecraft for landings on the Moon, which was intended to begin around 2019. The Altair spacecraft was planned to be used both for lunar sortie and lunar outpost missions.^[1]

On February 1, 2010, U.S. President Barack Obama announced a proposal to cancel the Constellation program (except the Orion spacecraft), to be replaced with a re-scoped program, effective with the U.S. 2011 fiscal year budget.^[2]

^ "Lunar Orbit Insertion Targeting and Associated Outbound Mission Design for Lunar Sortie Missions" (PDF). NASA. 2007.
^ "Fiscal Year 2011 Budget Estimates" (PDF). Nasa.gov. National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Retrieved March 5, 2022.

[1] "Lunar Orbit Insertion Targeting and Associated Outbound Mission Design for Lunar Sortie Missions" (PDF). NASA. 2007.

[2] "Fiscal Year 2011 Budget Estimates" (PDF). Nasa.gov. National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Retrieved March 5, 2022.

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