Apollo ended a long time ago.

A man tended facility for asteroid and comet detection could be built on the Moon using current commercial launch vehicles and a fuel transfer/crew transfer station orbiting the Moon. Not only can this be built, it must be built if NASA is to assure the public that they are making the best possbile effort to assure them of their safety form the danger of impact.

While many do not currently understand exactly how large this hazard is, it is both quite real and quite severe. As knowledge of the hazard spreads, the public at large will demand absolutely the best protection possible from NASA.
At that time, a time which is rapidly approaching, NASA leadership will face the choice of either stepping up to the plate, or resigning and letting someone who does feel themselves to be capable of it do the job.

http://www.geocities.com/epgrondine

ep