I have a NASA Feasibility question I would like to ask.

[Alpha Romeo]

The LM just barely had the duration for the Apollo 13 stunt. Making it the primary life support system for an out and back trip would be really stretching things in the LM/Centaur config mentioned previously.

Actually, the LM had several hours worth of water reserves and electrical reserves left. They funneled the electricity into the CM to allow for re-entry.

The apollo lunar module was surprisingly reliable for its lightweight and flimsy construction. Grummen built a hell of a craft.

 

[Crazy Eddie]

Once again: the Centaur upper stage has enough power for that, and NASA actually developed one specifically to be used in a space shuttle's cargo bay (never flown, though, because of all the handwringing post-Challenger).

All the data over at astronautix.com on the various Centaur configs show them to have about 10% of the thrust of the S IVb, give or take.

But more or less the same overall Delta-V, IIRC.

 

[Alpha_Geek]

The delta vee would depend on the mass being pushed. Here are the performance specs. The Centaur V2 is pretty typical for the family.

SIVb 231,913 lbf x 475 sec
Centaur V2 44,602 lbf x 451sec

 

[Alpha_Geek]

The LM just barely had the duration for the Apollo 13 stunt. Making it the primary life support system for an out and back trip would be really stretching things in the LM/Centaur config mentioned previously.

Actually, the LM had several hours worth of water reserves and electrical reserves left. They funneled the electricity into the CM to allow for re-entry.

The apollo lunar module was surprisingly reliable for its lightweight and flimsy construction. Grummen built a hell of a craft.

Agreed, it was all on the LM to bring those guys home and it did it. However, the steely-eyed missle men that coaxed that miracle out of the Apollo 13 LM cut lots of corners to get those men home.

In terms of using it on a non-emergency basis, I suspect the crew would want a working sanitation system, hot meals, working heaters, and a few more creature comforts than Aquarius was able to provide for the 4 days she was used as a lifeboat.