re: ponderously slow space walks meticulously planned for years
A three second time delay could still be a right bugger to work with. Teleoperation could work for a moon base but three seconds is a s-s-s-l-l-o-o-o-w-w-w reaction time. You'd need the teleoperator to be on the moon, or give the ROV it's own AI. Telepresence could provide the best of man and machine but I really think it has a long way to go before it could entirely replace having someone there. I think I'll be adopting wait and see how the technology progresses stance on this.