Word is coming down that the new space initiative is going to be a return to the Moon. The ISS is obviously a white elephant and NASA needs a mission. The powers-that-be in their infinite wisdom have observed that going to Mars is too expensive so they're going to opt for the Moon instead. This of course is a disaster. The Moon can not be colonized and has no resource value. The farside of the Moon does have value for radio astronomy. Also the Moon has siginificant science value. However science has never been a prime motivator for Space Exploration. Like the Space Shuttle and the ISS, the Moon is a dead end. Only by going to Mars can we maintain the Space Program as a long term colonization and technology development process. I estimate that this new Moon program is worth less than $100 billion before the public gets bored with it and cans it. Couple that with the failure of exobiology as a justification for unmanned space exploration and the whole space program will get flushed down the toilet. These bad decisions may trap our species on the Earth forever.
Gary
Looks like the Moon guys are going to get their wish
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