SEI was NASA porking up their estimate to the point of absurdity. In other words, it was a typical bureaucratic attempt at a decades long money grab. Their goal was more of lifetime employment than of space exploration. It was killed by Congress almost immediately, and rightfully so. Using those old numbers is as bogus as using opponent's numbers for the cost estimates of missile defense. Neither are based on current architectures and neither have any basis in reality.
If there is water at the lunar poles, it wouldn't require a manned facility to harvest it. It could be processed by robotic rovers for a far lower cost.
The whole discussion is academic because there is virtually no support for a trip to the moon or Mars in Congress. No bucks, no Buck Rogers. Congress isn't going to pay for either, so neither is going to happen unless some fantasy billionare decides to pay for it. Don't hold your breath.
Space/Science » in reply to The Old Trick Is Not The Cost
SEI was DOA
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