Have to remember we're still dealing with humans, and all their frail inconsistencies, so it will have to be a long, bumpy ride. In this light, statistically speaking, we may not have "plenty of time", but rather just enough time to see it through. We were fortunate that Goddard had the insight to look beyond the envelope of our atmosphere, and that von Braun was so much greater an ally for peaceful exploration than for Hitler’s dream of global conquest. Fortunate, too, that the Cold War was merely a shoving contest, one that pushed the two leading super powers to strive for space superiority.

At the moment, there is little driving us, but the advance of NEAs, such as 2002 NT7 may soon change this -- and there is China’s efforts to set up a permanent lunar base, which will spur the U.S. to either beat them, or join them.

It’s an exciting time,
Dan