Overall, I'm pretty pleased with the presdent's plan, even if it isn't quite as ambitious as had been expected. Still, the one thing missing that would have really made it complete is the Mars orbiting mission that had been included in all of the speculation leading up to the speech. In fact, it seems like that's the only part of the speculation that didn't end up being pretty close to accurate. I just wonder what happened to that idea? It must have had some validity or gotten some serious consideration. An orbiting mission would have been a wonderful Mars appetizer if we have to wait to at least 2030 for the real thing. Now, ironically enough, the Russians are talking about doing that very thing in 2014, although I know to be very skeptical about those type of reports. Perhaps if we have a partnership with them on the new intiative they'll bring some of their own ambitious ideas into it.

All in all a very promising developement with the hope that that things may develop in such a way that the Mars timetable gets accelerated at some point.