If I start speaking on the colleagues then I'm pretty much outing people who asked not to be.

This much I will say...they are not fans of either man, but have some respect for their works.

I know Zubrin reasonably well and have met Spudis and talked with people who really know them both very well.

My whole point in posting the Space Reviews article was to provide a different view on the subject of Lunar utility. Not that I agreed with everything Donald Beattie had to say.

I do agree there is nothing that could be economically created on the Moon right now and no number of overly optimistic papers makes this the case. But, we need to do further robotic exploration there to find out if there is ever a point were it can be. As it is clear no mining concern will do the R&D because of the costs and risks.

But, I also believe some NEA should be explored for the possible economical utility and a better understanding of the possibility of impact on Earth from one. And I personally think this more important than a human return to the Moon.