MW's comments were long on authoritative statements and totally lacking in details. I have never heard MW make a convincing argument for the Moon first. He sounds far too much like the use the Moon as a launch pad to get to Mars crowd. That approach is totally bogus due to the fact that it actually takes less energy to reach Mars than the Moon when aerobraking is employed.
The Moon should be justified based solely on its own merits for which MW suggests nothing. Nor does he provide any evidence that whatever he plans for the Moon would sustain public interest. Current plans for human missions to Mars are far longer than Apollo missions, are focused primarily on science rather than a race, and leave infrastructure capable of being used fo long term bases. The frequent comparison of current manned Mars mission plans to Apollo flags and which MW seems to be making as well footprints is false.
Space/Science » in reply to Lewis & Clarke to the Moon?
Re: Lewis & Clarke to the Moon?