Ares V will launch the Earth Departure Stage and Altair lunar lander when NASA returns to the Moon , which is currently planned for 2019 . Initially , the Ares V would have launched the Earth Departure Stage and Altair lunar lander had NASA returned to the Moon , which was planned for 2019 , but would also have served as the principal launcher for missions beyond the Earth-Moon system , including the program 's ultimate goal , a manned mission to Mars after 2030 .