Concerning a manned space program, there are several steps.
First, a mean to take humans to space (a capsule, a spaceplane, etc...)
Second, a mean to stay in space (close to Earth, but in space) to do all kinds of work like medical research, tourism, etc ...a space station.
Third, a mean to travel beyond LEO, anywhere in the inner solar system, like the moon, L1, L2, the newly discovered asteroid near Earth, Phobos, Deimos, Mars, Mercury, the asteroid belt.

Now, all of this is quite expensive; yet, the money stays on Earth, doesn' it? It even most of the time, stays in the US for US programs! So, the money goes from one pocket to another. Why is it so much? Are there unnecessary steps along the way? But how much can be saved before a system becomes inherently dangerous?

Raoul