The lunar robots would ... demonstrate reusable launch technology and explore ways for planetary missions to use the moon as an orbiting Cape Canaveral -- with one-sixth the liftoff thrust requirements as Earth.
...and...
From there we can go to the Moon. And from the Moon, Mars is a far shorter technical (and financial) step.
Is this the start of boondoggling by people who can smell buckets of tax dollars and, while they may sincerely want to get to Mars, aren't particularly motivated to do so by the most efficient means (bigger programs = more $$$)?
I keep reading and hearing that the idea of using the moon as a launchbed to the planets is simply not a good one. Is that incorrect? Zubrin's published some arguments in layman's terms that seem pretty convincing to me, but then I don't have the tools to properly analyze the issue.
What do you Poindexters say?
Uh oh...Lunar launchpad