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IOTL, the Apollo program utilised Lunar orbit rendezvous (LOR) for lunar landings. A single rocket (the Saturn V) launched the Apollo Command and Service Module (CSM) and Lunar Module (LM) into space and towards the Moon. Once the combined spacecraft reached lunar orbit, the LM separated and landed on the surface, while the CSM waited in orbit. It then returned, docked with the CSM, after which the crew returned to Earth.

The major advantage of LOR was the amount of payload saved because of the separate lunar lander: if Apollo consisted of only a single vessel that had to land on the Moon then return directly to Earth, it would have required a rocket to launch it so massive the US couldn't actually build it. However, there was an alternative: Earth orbit rendezvous (EOR).

EOR involved the use of several rockets, which would launch components of the final vessel into Earth orbit. The crew would assemble it there and then head to the Moon. EOR is attractive as that it would require a smaller rocket than that required for LOR, meaning the total mission would be cheaper than using a single massive rocket.

For the future of the space program, the advantage is that NASA isn't stuck with a hugely expensive, huge rocket in the Saturn V. Instead, they have a medium-sized rocket which is cheaper and can launch more cost-effective payloads into orbit. If EOR is chosen, then NASA could potentially not spend the 1970s tooling around with the scraps of the Apollo program and developing the Space Shuttle. Instead, we could see one or more space stations, more missions to the Moon, perhaps even the scrapping of the Shuttle altogether - a dead end as we discovered.

Could EOR be chosen? What kind of rockets/spaceships would be developed? What alternate missions would be flown?
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