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NASA officials announced at a Washington, D.C., press conference that the lunar orbit rendezvous (LOR) technique had been selected as the primary method of accomplishing the lunar landing mission. The launch vehicle would be the Saturn C-5, with the smaller two-stage Saturn C-1B (S-IVB as second stage) used in early earth orbital spacecraft qualification flights. Requests for industrial proposals would be issued immediately on the lunar excursion module, The reasons for the decision on lunar orbit rendezvous were explained:
- A higher probability of mission success with essentially equal mission safety was provided by this technique.
- The method promised mission success some months earlier than other modes.
- LOR costs would be ten to 15 percent less than other techniques.
- LOR would require the least amount of technical development beyond existing commitments while advancing significantly the national technology.
In addition, it was announced that:
- Studies would continue on the feasibility of using the Saturn C-5 to launch a two-man spacecraft in a direct ascent approach to the moon or in an earth orbit rendezvous mode.
- An in-depth study would be made on a lunar logistics vehicle.
- Investigations would continue on the development of the Nova launch vehicle.