This is why most of the space program should be turned over to private business. The government should not be involved much at all except for creating the overall goal. For example, we want a moon base? Offer a corporation a $10 billion prize for the first to create one that functions within certain parameters. Same with a mars mission. Turn it over to private business and entrepreneurs. Those that are willing to take some risks and think innovatively. Look, this is not a knock against NASA, it has done some great things, and continues to do so from time to time, however, being a bureaucratic mess, it is massively inefficient.
Look at SpaceShipOne, what an incredible success story, because they could make a business case for it, and they had innovators who were willing to take chances. I loved the Discovery Channel show on the program. When designing the ship they decided they needed some hand holds so Rutan sent an engineer to the junkyard to get some off of old cars "because they make some pretty good ones". NASA probably would have spent $1 million to put 10 engineers on it, do 100 tests and develop the most ergonomically perfect handhold ever designed, let alone whether it is necessary. Just put a $5 handhold on there!
> The government should not be involved much at all except for creating the overall goal.
Well, that and basic research, NACA-style. The government can afford to spend millions developing some new technology - a new propulsion system, for example - that private industry would not dare risk.
How will this be done? There is no private property in outer space.