We need to establish a permenant human base or bases on the Moon.

The science alone would justify the costs. In the long run, being a multiple "planet" species would have a profound effect on our human psyche...

Now here's my plan:

We need to establish a base at a lunar pole. Go to the poles 1st! Skip landing humans on places where we've already been (ie near the equator).

Next, fully supply the base with subterranian mining equipment, a Geology/materials science lab, a closed loop greenhouse/biology lab (call it biosphere 3). And other scientific labs as needed...

Set up a Lunar Post-doctorate Science University!

Then we need to get to work fully exploring the place with an eye toward exploiting the mineral resources that are available in every way possible---Yes! flat out, down and dirty capitalistic explotation of Space-Natural Resourses (NSRs).

Without capitalistic exploitation of the Moon and other NSRs, the human species will die a slow miserable death trapped on Earth.

In the meantime, human explorers could take on the lunar environment like they once did Everest and the Earth's polar regions: Who will be the first to circumnavigate the Moon?!?

Scott Evil