so long as they kept moving forward. It's the go, stop, start all over from scratch mentality that drives me bonkers.

In my view incrementalism isn't a bad way to go. It allows us to build upon past achievements and put a working infrastructure in place piece by piece. Here's some ideas:

1. A reusable system capable of sending people into orbit and bringing them back.

2. A heavy lift launcher capable of putting 100+ ton payloads into orbit

3. An orbital space station (much larger than the ISS) will be needed to service interplanetary transport craft incapable of landing on a planet's surface. Imagine something along the dual keel design from the mid eighties.

4. A standard nuclear powered interplanetary freighter capable of carrying both personnel and equipment to any point in the inner solar system (out to the asteroid belt). This class of ship will be the workhorse for setting up bases and mantaining them where ever they may be placed.

5. Along with the space freighter, a secondary reusable transport lander needs to be built that is capable of landing on Mars and returning to the mothership. If it is made to be able to land on Mars, then landing on the Moon or most other bodies within the solar system would be possible as well.

6. After a basic manned infrastructure is put in place within the inner solar system, construction of a larger, more powerful outer solar system vehicle could be built. Such a vehicle would be able of transporting large amounts of material and some personnel to the outer planets and their moons.

My ideas are heavy on the transportation side of things. If the means of getting there is built, then people will want to go there. By creating a solar system interstate system, Nasa will help private companies and individuals move out and setup shop where ever they decide. Then the Moon or Mars people can go where ever the hell they want.